Author: Momo Chan

War broke out in the Republic of Yaran, but my fiancé threw a fit at the airport, refusing to let the evacuation flight take off. All to wait for his precious Jennie, the woman who’d taken advantage of the chaos to go loot a designer makeup counter. The roar of explosions crept closer and closer. With the entire plane in mortal danger, I had no choice but to knock him unconscious and drag him aboard. Back home, far from the war, we lived a quiet, happy life. I thought he had finally forgotten her. But on our wedding day, he tied me up, got in his car, and ran me down. As I lay dying, I heard his venomous laughter. “Lynn, this is all your fault. You killed my Jennie, left her to be blown to pieces by a missile! “She was just a girl who loved beautiful things! What was so wrong with that? “You owe her this. I’m going to make your death a thousand times more gruesome than hers!” When I opened my eyes again, I was back in that moment, with him blocking the jet bridge. This time, I would give him exactly what he wanted. I would let him and his beloved Jennie stay together… forever. 1 “The rebels are almost at the airport! If we don’t take off now, we’ll be trapped!” The sounds of gunfire and explosions were drawing nearer, punctuated by the terrified screams of the crowd. Inside the cabin, people were praying, begging. A few frantic men rushed toward my fiancé, Ethan, trying to reason with him. He kicked them away with a savage boot. He glared at anyone who dared approach. “Jennie is on her way! What’s the big deal about waiting for her?” A man with glasses, clutching his chest where Ethan had kicked him, scrambled back to his feet. “So we can all die with her? Is that the plan?!” he spat, his voice shaking with fury. “The evacuation window is closing! The rebels are coming! How long are we supposed to wait? Don’t you realize we have Dr. Finch on this plane?” He pointed toward a pale, white-haired old man sitting quietly nearby. Dr. Finch was a titan in the medical field, the core of this entire rescue mission. He’d come to Yaran on a humanitarian mission, and if anything happened to him, countless patients back home would lose their only hope. “So what? Your lives matter, but Jennie’s doesn’t?” Ethan shot back, his face a mask of cold fury. “We’re all fellow countrymen. We should stick together.” His words left everyone seething but speechless. My co-pilot, just as furious, turned to me. “Captain Miller, you have to talk to your fiancé! This evacuation involves every citizen in Yaran!” “They’re about to lock down the whole country! This is our only chance out!” “And Dr. Finch’s health can’t take any more risks!” In an instant, every eye in the cabin was on me. I was the captain of this flight, one of the leaders of the evacuation. They were all looking to me to restore order. Ethan’s head snapped toward me, a familiar, predatory glint in his eyes. He was afraid I would give the order to leave Jennie behind. For a split second, I saw a flash of pure murder in his gaze. I took a deep breath and made a decision completely different from my past life. “Ethan is right. We can’t abandon any of our own.” A wave of groans and frustrated hisses swept through the cabin. Ethan, however, visibly relaxed, a triumphant smirk spreading across his face. “Crazy! You’re all fucking crazy!” the man in glasses cursed, struggling to stand up again. Ethan’s expression twisted into a snarl. He lunged forward, decking the man with a single punch, then pulled a heavy hammer from an overhead maintenance locker. As the plane’s mechanic, he knew every inch of this aircraft. He slammed the hammer against the cabin wall for emphasis, his eyes sweeping over the passengers. “Anyone else have something to say? Don’t tempt me.” 2 The cabin fell silent. Only the escalating explosions outside served as a grim reminder of the approaching danger. Ethan scanned the cabin, satisfied by the fear in everyone’s eyes. He shot me a softer, almost gentle look. “Lynn, thank you for standing up for Jennie. I knew my fiancée was the kindest, most reasonable woman in the world.” He leaned in, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “For being so good, I promise, the moment we get home, we’ll get married. From now on, I’ll only ever be good to you.” How familiar that promise sounded. He’d used the exact same words to fool me in our last life. I fought back a wave of nausea and forced a shy nod. He placed a soft kiss on my forehead. I lowered my eyes, hiding the icy contempt within. Outside, the chaos intensified. Plumes of black smoke billowed in the distance, and the silhouettes of rebel armored vehicles were becoming visible. Yet Ethan remained planted at the cabin door, his gaze fixed on the tarmac as if awaiting his messiah. But I knew the truth. Even if Jennie made it, we would never reach home. When he’d struck the wall with that hammer, I’d heard a faint but distinct click from the wing’s assembly. I’d seen a case like it in a maintenance manual once. A screw, loosened by metal fatigue. At thirty thousand feet, the stress would be enough to tear the plane apart. And now, that screw was gone. Even if we took off this very second, this plane wouldn’t survive the climb. The atmosphere in the cabin grew thick with despair. Some passengers wept softly, while others gripped their armrests, their knuckles white. A few younger men glared at Ethan, held back only by the hammer in his hand. “Damn it, we’re all going to die if we keep waiting!” one man finally roared. Ethan sneered, slamming the hammer against the bulkhead again. “Then get off the plane if you don’t want to wait!” Just then, the sharp click-clack of high heels echoed from the tarmac. “Ethan! I’m here!” Jennie ran toward us, her cheeks flushed and her long hair flying behind her. She was laden with bulging designer shopping bags, her lips painted with fresh Chanel lipstick, her makeup as flawless as if she were heading to a gala. Ethan’s face lit up. He dropped the hammer and rushed to her, pulling her into a tight embrace. “Jennie! You made it!” Jennie playfully tapped his chest. “Phew, I almost didn’t! Good thing I’m a fast runner.” She proudly showed off her haul, her eyes scanning the cabin until they landed on me. A provocative smile touched her lips. Ethan followed her gaze. His expression tightened for a moment before softening again. “Lynn, Jennie’s here. We can take off now.” But the man in glasses exploded. “Are you kidding me? What the hell is with all those bags of designer makeup?” he yelled. “You made us risk our lives so she could steal more cosmetics?!” His accusation drew a chorus of angry glares. Ethan snatched the hammer from the floor and pointed it menacingly at him. “Say one more word, and I swear I’ll crack your skull open.” The cabin fell silent again, the only sound the ragged, furious breathing of the man in glasses. Jennie hid behind Ethan, flashing a triumphant smirk at the passengers and deliberately shaking her shopping bags. As they passed me, she leaned in close to Ethan’s chest and whispered, just loud enough for me to hear, “Thanks for waiting for me, Lynn.” I said nothing. I just watched the armed figures sprinting toward us from across the airfield. The moment the cabin door sealed shut, a burst of automatic gunfire erupted outside. “The rebels are here!” someone screamed. 3 A torrent of furious curses exploded through the cabin. “Are you happy now, Ethan?!” the man in glasses roared, pointing at the rebels swarming the runway outside the window. “We’re all going to die here because we had to wait for her!” A mother clutching her child began to sob. “My baby is only three… and for what? So she could loot some makeup…” Jennie’s eyes immediately filled with tears. She shrank into Ethan’s arms, her voice trembling. “It’s not my fault… I was just getting some things to donate to the orphans back home…” Ethan hugged her protectively. “Exactly. Jennie is the kindest person I know. How dare you blame her?” Chaos reigned. Some people were crying hysterically into their hands, others frantically texting loved ones. The shouts of the rebels and the sporadic crack of gunfire were now terrifyingly close. I looked at the panicked faces around me and lowered my voice. “The plane is too big a target. We have to move to the nearby bomb shelter.” The man in glasses asked desperately, “But how do we get out there? It’s swarming with rebels!” I pointed to the maintenance access hatch below the main ramp. “This leads directly to a service tunnel. It’s our way to the shelter.” I quickly unlatched the hatch. “Everyone, follow me. And stay quiet.” The passengers scrambled out, one by one. Only Jennie remained, looking at the dark opening with disgust. “It’s so dirty down there… My new dress…” Ethan immediately soothed her. “Don’t worry, Jennie. I’ll carry you.” I gave the pair a cold look before turning and leading the others into the tunnel. Behind me, I heard Dr. Finch’s weak cough. “Lynn, my old bones might not make it…” “Don’t worry, Doctor,” I said, helping him steady himself. “Your research is vital to our country. I will get you home safely.” The tunnel was damp and dark, the distant shouts of rebels echoing ominously. We moved in silence, holding our breath, until we finally reached the bomb shelter. “Wait here,” I whispered. “I’ve already contacted the military. They’ll be here within two hours.” A collective sigh of relief filled the room as people found places to sit. But just then, a thick, cloying cloud of perfume filled the enclosed space. “What’s that smell?” the man in glasses asked, his head snapping up. Jennie was spritzing herself liberally with a bottle of Chanel No. 5. “It stinks in here,” she whined. “What’s wrong with a little perfume?” Suddenly, Dr. Finch began to cough violently, his face turning deathly pale. “Stop… please, stop… I’m allergic…” I lunged forward and snatched the bottle from her, but it was too late. Dr. Finch was struggling to breathe, his lips already turning blue. “You idiot!” the man in glasses screamed. “If anything happens to Dr. Finch, you’ll be a traitor to the nation!” 4 Jennie cowered behind Ethan. “I didn’t know… Why is everyone always picking on me?” Ethan shielded her, roaring at the others, “She didn’t do it on purpose! Why are you all bullying her like this?” He ignored the crowd’s fury and guided Jennie to a corner. I had no time for them. I ordered everyone to help me search for allergy medication for the doctor. Just as I found the auto-injector in the first-aid kit and was about to hand it to Dr. Finch, I heard Jennie’s delicate voice. “Achoo… Ethan, I think… I think I’m having an allergic reaction too.” My head whipped around. Jennie was clutching her chest, her face pale, leaning against Ethan as if she were about to faint. “Jennie! What’s wrong?” Ethan cried, catching her in his arms. He turned and yelled at me, “Get the medicine over here! Jennie can’t breathe!” Dr. Finch was now on the verge of collapse, his fingers clawing at his chest. “No!” I refused sharply, moving toward the doctor. “This is Dr. Finch’s life-saving medication!” But Ethan lunged, snatching the injector from my hand. The force of his shove sent me staggering back against the wall. I stared at him in disbelief. “He’s going into anaphylactic shock! You know he’s the primary objective of this evacuation!” Ethan hesitated for a fraction of a second, then shoved the injector into Jennie’s hand. “He’s an old man, he was going to die soon anyway,” he sneered. “Is his life more precious than Jennie’s?” The shelter erupted in shocked gasps. The man in glasses was the first to react. “Ethan! Dr. Finch is a national treasure! You’re sacrificing him for some makeup-stealing whore—” “Shut up!” Ethan swung the hammer, knocking the man to the ground. He glared at the horrified onlookers. “Anyone else comes near, and I’ll kill them!” Leaning weakly against the wall, Jennie shot me a triumphant smirk. She took the injector and, with Ethan holding a water bottle for her, calmly administered the dose. By now, Dr. Finch had collapsed, his face a ghastly shade of purple, a terrible wheezing sound rattling in his throat. The man in glasses scrambled to his side, shouting at me, “Captain! Do something!” I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. It was just like my past life. Ethan always put Jennie first, no matter who else had to die. My phone vibrated softly in my pocket. I glanced at the screen, and the tension in my face eased slightly. I leaned toward the man in glasses and whispered, “Don’t worry. Help is on the way.” The very first thing I did after being reborn was send an emergency distress signal to the military. As if on cue, the sound of heavy footsteps and metallic clanking echoed from outside the shelter door. “It’s the army!” the man in glasses exclaimed, scrambling to his feet. “We’re saved!” Blinding beams of light cut through the darkness as fully armed special forces soldiers secured the entrance. The lead officer removed his night-vision goggles, his sharp eyes scanning the room. “Where is Dr. Finch? My orders are to prioritize his evacuation.” Every head turned toward the corner where the old man lay, barely breathing. The officer’s face contorted in fury. He was at Dr. Finch’s side in an instant. “Doctor!” he roared, his voice echoing in the silent shelter. “Who did this?!”

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1 The day before my wedding, I went to my fiancé’s office to surprise him with lunch. What I found instead was Lily Vance—the woman who’d left him for being poor and gone abroad—draped across his lap. When she saw me, Lily deliberately tightened her arms around Leo’s neck. “So you’re the little social climber who just plays cards all day? Leo is a celebrated architect now. You’re not in his league.” I ignored her and looked straight at Leo. “Are you calling off the wedding?” My fiancé’s face was a mask of cold indifference. “I need a partner in my career, Stella, not a common woman who only knows how to gossip over a card game.” He sneered. “The stench of the common world on you… it makes me sick.” I didn’t scream. I didn’t cry. I just went back to the private club and, as usual, sat down with my regular partners for a game of Bridge. Leo was right. My daily routine was playing cards. What he didn’t know was that the women at my table held his entire future in their hands. I picked up a card, the ace of spades, and played it with a calm, deliberate motion. “Mrs. Kingston,” I said, my voice light, “that downtown design project your husband is overseeing? Don’t give it to Leo. I have someone better.” … Across the table, Mrs. Kingston paused, her hand hovering over a card. She looked up at me, not with a question in her eyes, but with complete understanding. “Of course, dear. Whatever you say.” She picked up her phone and stepped away from the table. Her voice was low but every word was crystal clear. “Henry, darling? About that downtown project… put it on hold. Yes, replace Leo. Stella has a more suitable candidate.” She hung up and returned to her seat as if she had just instructed her maid to change the dinner menu. My face was impassive. I continued to draw and play my cards as if nothing had happened. Less than ten minutes later, Leo’s call came through. I declined, hung up, and blocked his number. The movements were a single, fluid motion. Half an hour later, the club door was thrown open with such force that it shuddered on its hinges. Leo stood there, panting, his eyes bloodshot, glaring at me like a cornered animal. Lily Vance was clinging to his arm, the picture of fragile innocence, but her eyes glittered with triumph and provocation. Leo stormed over to my table, swept the cards into a pile, and slammed them to the floor. “Stella! The Kingston project is dead! Was this your doing?!” The sharp clatter of the cards was jarring in the quiet room. Mrs. Kingston’s brow furrowed, her expression turning to ice. “Mr. Armstrong, you are not welcome here. Please leave.” Leo completely ignored her, his rage focused solely on me. “Have you had your fun? Don’t play dumb with me! I know you went crying to the Kingstons! Do you have any idea how many nights I spent on that project, how many proposals I drew up? And you destroy it all just because I chose Lily?” Lily immediately gave his sleeve a timid tug, her voice just loud enough for the table to hear. “Leo, darling, don’t be like that. It couldn’t possibly have been Stella. She doesn’t have that kind of influence. I’m sure it was just a last-minute procedural change, or maybe one of your competitors sabotaged you. You shouldn’t blame an innocent person.” Her words were placating, but her body pressed closer to his, staking her claim. At her “reminder,” the suspicion in Leo’s eyes wavered. That’s right. Stella was just a woman who kept rich wives company at the card table. How could she possibly have the power to kill a project that Mr. Kingston himself had approved? He’d much rather believe it was a rival. His gaze shifted from suspicion to pure contempt and disgust. “Get a grip, Stella! Look at yourself. What can you do besides wait on these wealthy women? The cheapness clinging to you is utterly repulsive!” “I need a partner like Lily, someone who can help me with my career, with my connections! Not some common woman who only knows how to play cards!” “Do you think I’m finished without the Kingston project? Let me tell you something. Without me, you are the one who has nothing!” He spat his final words, grabbed Lily’s hand, and stormed out as if fleeing something foul. The club was silent. Mrs. Kingston handed me a cup of tea. “Stella, don’t waste your anger on a man like that.” I shook my head and gave a small, self-deprecating laugh. Across from me, Mrs. Albright played a card with a slow, deliberate hand. “The lead architect for the new downtown redevelopment project hasn’t been chosen yet,” she said casually. “The requirements aren’t steep. Just a clean record… and impeccable character.” An idea sparked in my mind. I picked up a card, looked toward the door where Leo had disappeared, and placed it gently on the table. “And… game,” I said. “A clean sweep.” After they left, Leo and Lily convinced themselves the Kingston project was a fluke, a bit of sabotage from a competitor. They pinned all their hopes on the new downtown redevelopment project. Lily pulled strings with her father and managed to secure Leo a coveted presentation slot. That night, Leo sent me a text. It was a photo of him with a well-known city official. [See this, Stella? This is where I belong.] [The lead designer role for the redevelopment is mine.] [If you hadn’t been so dramatic, that could be you standing next to me. Too bad. Not your fate.] I looked at the boastful message, found it laughable, and deleted it. The next day, at the card table. I brought it up casually with Mrs. Albright. “Mrs. Albright, I heard there’s an architect named Leo Armstrong in the running for the redevelopment project?” Mrs. Albright nodded, her expression neutral. “Yes, I believe so. His proposal was decent. A bit clever.” I smiled, as if we were just making small talk. “He was a senior of mine in college. He was always so talented. His graduation project even won the Gold Medal.” I paused, then added, “But I heard a rumor later… that the award-winning design was actually plagiarized from his girlfriend at the time. The poor girl was so foolish. She covered the whole thing up to protect his future.” Mrs. Albright’s hand slowed as she reached for a card. She didn’t say anything, but her eyes darkened as she glanced at me. On the day of the presentations, I went to the city hall. I had just found a seat in the audience when Lily appeared. She looked down her nose at me, a smirk playing on her lips. “Common women belong in their card clubs. A place like this is above your station.” I didn’t look up, just calmly smoothed the hem of my dress. “I came to see how something I threw away is being treated like a treasure.” Lily’s face tightened. She shot me a hateful glare and stalked off. Leo, dressed in a sharp designer suit, was on stage, speaking eloquently. His proposal was impressive, drawing rounds of applause. When he finished, he made a point of looking in my direction, his eyes filled with a mixture of contempt and triumph. Lily sat in the section reserved for family, smiling like the lady of the manor. The judges on the panel were whispering among themselves, clearly pleased with his work. The host was already raising the microphone to announce the decision. “Ladies and gentlemen, regarding Mr. Armstrong’s proposal, the committee is in unanimous agreement that…” Just then, Director Albright—Mrs. Albright’s husband—who was seated on the panel, raised his hand. “One moment.” Every eye in the auditorium turned to him. Director Albright held up a file. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried through the silent hall. “Mr. Armstrong, behind this stunning proposal of yours, I have just one question.” “Why does the core design concept of your graduation project, ‘Dream Weaver,’ bear such a striking resemblance to a publicly presented thesis by a Ms. Stella Ross, titled ‘Lightspire’?” The smile froze on Leo’s face. He looked as if he’d been struck by lightning, his mind a complete blank. Director Albright projected a side-by-side comparison of the two designs onto the massive screen behind the stage. The overlapping sections were highlighted in red. It was damning. “We had several industry experts conduct an independent analysis. The conclusion is that your work constitutes plagiarism of over ninety percent.” “For an architect, academic integrity is the foundation. For a civic project, the designer’s character is the minimum requirement.” The hall erupted in gasps and murmurs. Leo’s face was ashen. He stood trembling on the stage, a clown stripped bare for all to see. His eligibility was revoked on the spot. The plagiarism scandal spread through the industry like a plague. Reeling from one blow after another, his reputation in tatters, Leo finally started to suspect I was behind it. But he had no proof, and he couldn’t bring himself to believe I wielded that kind of power. All he could do was call me, ranting and raving like a madman. Lily, however, refused to believe it. She was convinced I was a brainless twit. “Leo, darling, don’t overthink it. Stella isn’t smart enough for that.” “It has to be your jealous rivals, trying to drag you down! Don’t worry, I’ll help you!” To salvage Leo’s crumbling reputation, Lily threw a lavish gala for the city’s top architects. She wanted to use the event to show everyone that Leo was still a brilliant genius, with her and her family’s backing. I received an invitation, embossed in gold foil. It felt like a declaration of war. I knew it was a trap. At the gala, architects who knew Leo saw me and shot me looks of pity and disdain, quickly turning away. Lily, in a pristine white evening gown, moved through the crowd like a proud peacock. When she saw me, a flicker of malice crossed her face, as if she were plotting something. She walked toward me, a glass of red wine in hand. As she got close, her ankle “twisted,” and the entire glass of wine splashed across my dress. The crimson liquid was a garish stain on my cream-colored gown. “Oh my goodness, Stella, I am so, so sorry!” she cried out, her voice loud enough to draw everyone’s attention. “It was an accident! Are you alright? I’m just so clumsy.” Before I could say a word, Leo rushed over, pulling Lily behind him protectively. He scowled at me, his face a mask of impatience and disgust. “Stella, what the hell is your problem? You follow us here, and now you’re trying to hurt Lily?” “I remember how you begged your distant, business-owning relative to help me get started. Is this how you repay me? With these cheap, pathetic games of revenge?” With that one statement, he branded me a bitter, obsessive ex. People around us began to whisper. “So that’s her. I heard she’s the one who reported him for plagiarism.” “If she can’t have him, she’ll destroy him. That woman is manipulative.” “Look at what she’s wearing. Looks like it’s from a discount rack. How did she even get in here?” The whispers were like needles, pricking at me from all sides. The same suffocating feeling from my past life—of being isolated and misunderstood by everyone—closed in around me. I looked at the perfectly synchronized performance of the wretched pair before me. I saw the false concern on their faces, hiding their smug satisfaction. I knew I had to make them pay. I smiled brightly at Lily. Then I took out my phone and, right in front of them, made a call. “Mrs. Zhang, are you awake? I’ve run into a bit of a situation.” Mrs. Zhang’s cheerful voice came through the line. “Not at all, dear. What’s going on? Take your time.” I glanced at Lily, whose face had instantly changed, and kept my voice just loud enough for those nearby to hear. “Oh, it’s nothing major. I was just wondering, is your husband still investigating Vance Holdings for tax evasion?” I paused. “I heard the chairman of Vance Holdings is Lily Vance’s father. If the evidence is solid, I imagine that’s enough for a ten-to-fifteen-year sentence, wouldn’t you say?” The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds. “Stella. Thank you for the tip. I know what to do.” I hung up, and with a small smile, raised my phone in a little toast to a pale, trembling Lily.

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1 After seven secret years, I was pregnant with the Will family heir. But Graham still hadn’t married me—because I was the city’s shame: an illegitimate daughter. For me, he’d defied his family, surrendered 40% of his controlling stake, and taken a reckless wager: to earn the company ten billion dollars before our child was born. The impossible deal shocked everyone. They all believed his love was absolute. At six months, I went to his office with my ultrasound. Outside, I saw him hand a major client to his biggest rival. His friend Leo confronted him. “Nora’s due soon, and you’re giving away a billion-dollar deal? You’ll lose the wager—you’ll never marry her!” After a silence, Graham’s voice cut clear. “Win or lose, I’m still the Will heir. What’s there to fear? She’ll stay by my side. Who would dare speak against her?” His tone hardened. “But Rosalind was there for me during Nora’s three years abroad. She nearly died for me. The only reason she survives the Vance family viper’s nest is the marriage contract I gave her.” “If I actually win this wager… what happens to Rosalind?” Rosalind Vance. My half-sister. The deepest shadow of my life. I stared at the ultrasound, the words “perfectly healthy” blurring. After a moment, I raised my hand and knocked. … Leo Grant, Graham’s best friend, saw me and immediately broke into a warm smile. “Nora! You’re here! Come on in, sit down. How was the check-up?” “Graham, I’m serious, man,” he said, turning to my fiancé. “Nora’s getting bigger by the day, and you know every eye in the city is on you two. You need to hurry up! I heard that Caden Hayes has been asking around about Nora lately.” Leo shot Graham a meaningful look. “You’ve gotta feel the heat, man. Pay attention, you hear me?” I could tell Leo was trying to nudge Graham, to remind him what was at stake. In this treacherous world of ours, there weren’t many people who genuinely wished me well. He was one of them. I held my breath, waiting for Graham’s reaction. “Is that so?” Those three words, delivered so lightly, were like a bucket of ice water dumped over my head. That’s it? Seven years ago, or even just before I went abroad, the mere mention of another man near me would have sent him into a jealous fit. I’ll never forget the time he’d jumped in front of me to fend off a group of thugs. He’d gotten bruised and cut, but he’d still looked at me with that stubborn intensity and said, “Nora Lane, the only man who stands by your side is me.” It wasn’t until much later that I learned those thugs never bothered me again because Caden Hayes had quietly dealt with them. But at that moment, Graham had been the only light in my gray world. Three years abroad, and everything had changed. The name ‘Rosalind,’ spoken so easily from his lips, felt like a slap across my face, shattering every fantasy I’d ever held. Leo noticed the change in my expression and quickly tried to smooth things over. “Nora, how were the results?” “Everything’s fine.” I handed the report to Graham, adding an explanation. “Caden and I are old friends. He looked out for me a lot when I was overseas.” Graham just waved it off. “I know. My Nora only has room in her heart for me. What’s a Caden Hayes to worry about?” I forced a smile, unable to hide the bitterness. In our relationship, Graham had always been supremely confident. I looked at him, finally asking the question that had been swirling in my mind for weeks. “How is the project coming along?” “The baby is already six months.” Graham rubbed his temples, a perfectly measured look of apology on his face. “Nora, I’m sorry. This time… I might have to disappoint you again.” “I’ll try harder next time, okay?” He reached for my hand, but I shifted slightly, and his fingers brushed against empty air. If I hadn’t overheard, who would have guessed that this project, already in the bag, was one he had deliberately let slip away? How many “next times” had there been in these seven years? It wasn’t the first time he’d had to fight for us. He’d won the bid for a fiercely contested piece of land on the east side just so the family would allow him to fly overseas to see me for a single day. He’d secured a major international subsidiary just to get their nod of approval for us to officially date. Every step forward was treated like a gift from the gods. Each one required a monumental effort from him and my boundless gratitude. Yet, between him and Rosalind, these insurmountable obstacles seemed to never exist. Their engagement was public knowledge, a smooth and celebrated affair. The year I first went abroad, I had secretly rejoiced, thinking the “Vance daughter” everyone was talking about was me. Was it all wrong simply because I was an illegitimate child, a secret not meant for the light of day? “If this project fails, I’ll likely lose the shares I currently hold in the company.” His eyes held a pleading look, a strategic retreat. “Nora, if I have nothing left, you won’t leave me, will you?” There he was again, using my guilt and my sympathy to chain me to him. “No,” I heard myself say, my voice flat. Graham breathed a sigh of relief, his tone firming up again. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep fighting the family for the next opportunity.” His gaze fell to my stomach. “It just means you’ll have to go through this alone for a little while. You’ll have to deliver our baby first.” I lowered my eyes, hiding the storm of emotions inside me. Just like countless times before, I obediently agreed. “Okay. I know. I don’t mind.” I was never the type to press for answers or make a scene. Just then, my phone rang. It was my father. “Come home for dinner tonight. It’s your sister Rosalind’s birthday. The whole family will be here. You have to come.” After hanging up, I told Graham I had to go. I couldn’t stand to be in that room a moment longer. But for some reason, I didn’t leave immediately. From inside the office, I heard Graham’s voice again. “Have that pink diamond from the auction house prepared. Make sure it’s wrapped beautifully and send it over to the Vances.” Leo exploded. “Are you fucking serious? You’re really going through with marrying Rosalind Vance? A pink diamond? What about Nora and the baby? You know those two sisters are like fire and ice!” “If Nora can’t handle it and runs off, let’s see how much you regret it then!” My heart stopped. Then came Graham’s voice, cold and sharp enough to cut through bone. “Once the baby is born, she’ll be tied to me. With that connection, even with Rosalind in the picture, Nora will never leave.” “Besides, it’s a sham marriage. What does it matter? Nora isn’t the type to make a fuss.” I leaned against the wall, slowly pulling myself upright. A faint, sharp pain twisted in my abdomen, making it hard to breathe. I placed a hand over the warmth of my belly. And then, a single, crystal-clear thought cut through all my carefully constructed nonchalance. This baby… I couldn’t keep it. My steps were unsteady as I arrived at the Vance family home. “Nora, you’re here! Oh, let me see, has the baby been behaving?” Rosalind greeted me with a cloying sweetness, her hand reaching for my stomach. Her circle of socialite friends immediately swarmed around us like a flock of chattering birds. “Oh, Rosalind, this baby will definitely be closest to you! It’ll probably say ‘mama’ to you first!” “Exactly! Graham even gave Rosalind the marriage contract. She’s the official Mrs. Will. Who else would the baby be close to?” Their words confirmed everything I had overheard. There really was a marriage contract. Then, another voice dropped a bombshell. “And did you hear? I think Rosalind saved Graham’s life once! It’s such a shame her health is so poor. The doctors say it’ll be very difficult for her to have children of her own. So tragic.” “Wait… could it be that this Nora girl, brought back from the countryside and getting pregnant out of wedlock… was just meant to be a surrogate for Rosalind?” That one sentence opened the floodgates of all my doubts. So, this child in my belly… what was it to them? A gift prepared for Rosalind? An icy chill shot through my body, and I felt frozen to the spot. Just then, Graham arrived. His assistant followed, carrying a gift box containing a pink diamond the size of a small fist. Gasps of awe filled the room. Graham’s voice was calm. “Happy birthday, Rosalind.” What a gift. I looked down at the delicate necklace I was wearing. It also had a pink diamond pendant, but it was no bigger than a grain of rice. It was an anniversary gift from him a few weeks ago. It suits you perfectly, he had said. So, in his heart, only Rosalind was worthy of a priceless treasure. One of the girls beside Rosalind laughed openly. “That’s a nice little thing around Nora’s neck, but the size…” “Well, it’s not surprising. Given her background, an illegitimate girl is lucky to wear a diamond at all.” Illegitimate. Again. If it hadn’t been for Rosalind’s mother, crashing my own mother’s wedding with a baby in her arms, my mother never would have suffered the shock that led to her dying in childbirth. I never would have been born without a mother. For seventeen years, I was the “wild child” living with my grandmother, never once experiencing the warmth or privilege of the Vance family. How dare they mock me with my own scars? Graham noticed my pale face and came over, pulling a translucent green jade bracelet from his pocket. “It was my grandmother’s. For good luck and protection.” He lowered his voice. “Don’t listen to them. There’s nothing between Rosalind and me. I only see her as a sister.” A sister? Right. I was too exhausted to even question him. I pulled my hand away. “I’m a little tired. I’m going upstairs to rest.” My room opened onto a garden, and I could hear Leo and a few of Graham’s other friends confronting Rosalind below. “Rosalind, don’t you get it? Graham’s feelings for you are just a mix of pity and using your family’s connections.” “Everyone in the city knows who he really loves! It’s Nora!” “Are you that desperate? Nora, your sister, is about to give birth! Have some decency!” The argument grew heated. Suddenly, Graham’s voice cut through, fiercely defending Rosalind. “That’s enough! Who said no one wants Rosalind?” In that instant, any shred of hope I had left crumbled to dust. My vision blurred with tears as I instinctively unlocked my phone. “Hello, Doctor? I need to schedule a procedure.” I was so thin that even after the procedure, no one could tell I’d lost the baby. When I stumbled out of the recovery room, I ran right into Caden Hayes. He didn’t seem to notice anything was different. “Nora?” He walked over. “What are you doing here? You look terrible.” I managed a weak smile and, without a second of hesitation, told him the truth. “An abortion.” Caden’s pupils contracted, a flash of fury crossing his face before he suppressed it. “You fool. I told you Graham Will was no good.” I smiled faintly. “You knew about him and Rosalind, didn’t you?” Caden looked away, flustered. “I heard whispers, back when you were overseas. But I didn’t think you would have believed me even if I told you.” He was right. Back then, blinded by seven years of love, I would have automatically blocked out anything negative about Graham. “Nora, I won’t tell anyone about this,” Caden said as I was leaving. He grabbed my arm. “What I asked you seven years ago… are you willing to reconsider?” For a moment, the man standing before me wasn’t the flashy, spoiled heir I knew. He was the sun-drenched boy from our small town who would ride his bike for ten miles in the summer heat just to buy me a milk tea. But I didn’t answer. Right now, I didn’t feel I had the right. That night, I didn’t go back to the apartment I shared with Graham. I went to the Vance house instead. As I passed the study, I overheard Rosalind and her mother plotting. “We have to strike before that baby is born! We can’t let her use the child to gain power, just like we dealt with her short-lived mother…” “Rosalind, you can’t hesitate any longer!” I froze outside the door, my limbs weak. I was powerless against them, especially now that Rosalind held a position in the family company. My only comfort was that Graham was leaving on a business trip soon. I could recover in peace at our apartment. Three months later, Graham returned. His eyes instinctively went to my stomach, which should have been round and full. “You look like you’ve lost weight. Not eating well?” I quietly agreed. He didn’t press the issue, instead pushing several expensive gift boxes toward me. I had no interest in opening them. They would be the usual jewels and limited-edition handbags—opulent but thoughtless. He had never once tried to understand what I truly wanted. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.” Graham sat down, his voice serious. “Nora, there’s something you need to know.” “The Vance family is a threat to the baby now, and so is my own family. This is the first Will grandchild, after all.” “I’ve arranged a villa for you overseas. You can go there and wait for the birth in peace. Once the baby is born safely, I’ll bring you back.” I listened silently, my heart numb. It was as if he were confirming my darkest fears. Then, he delivered the final blow. “There’s one other thing. The company is putting a lot of pressure on me regarding Rosalind.” “She needs the title of ‘Mrs. Will’ to secure her position on the board. So, I agreed… we’ll have a wedding soon.” He quickly added, his voice urgent, “It’s just an act! It’s for show. We won’t file any legal papers.” “Once this all blows over, I’ll give you everything you deserve.” “Nora, you understand, don’t you? It’s just a strategic move.” I looked up, trying to find a trace of love in his eyes. All I saw was my own reflection, as if I were the only person in his world. But why did the words from someone who claimed to love me cut so deep? “Okay. I’ll do whatever you say.” My consent clearly relieved him. “Nora, I knew you’d understand! We’re going to be the happiest family of three!” That night, while Graham was in the shower, I lay in bed and composed a text. [Caden, about your offer… I’ve thought about it. Let’s meet and talk.] The next morning, I woke to a heavy sense of pressure. I opened my eyes to see Graham standing over me, holding my phone. The screen was on, displaying my text exchange with Caden. I didn’t know how much he’d seen. I had never contacted Caden before, so that one message was it. I didn’t know what he might have replied. I had fallen asleep right after sending it, never imagining Graham would decide to check my phone. His face was a thundercloud. “Nora, when did you start talking to Caden Hayes?” “And what are these pills? Why were you at the OB-GYN clinic?”

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1 My husband, Mike, was an Ivy League prodigy. The moment he graduated, he was flooded with offers from Fortune 500 companies, each one a golden ticket to a brilliant career. But for me, he traded it all in to become a stay-at-home dad. To everyone else, I was the woman who had it all, the one they all envied. In the dead of night, lying beside him in the quiet dark after we’d made love, he fell asleep. On a sudden, reckless impulse, I picked up his phone. My face smiled back at me from the lock screen. But pinned to the top of his chat history was a woman named “Leo’s Mom.” She was the mother of our daughter Lily’s friend from preschool. A new message from her popped up: “Mike, it’s getting cold tomorrow. Don’t forget to bundle up.” Mike had replied with a GIF of a nodding kitten. “You too,” he’d written. I scrolled up, my thumb flying across the screen, page after page, hundreds of them. On all those countless nights I was stuck at the office working late, they had been here, trading these small, intimate words of care. I couldn’t remember the last time he’d sent me a GIF, or even asked if I was tired after a long day. I didn’t sleep a wink. I read their entire chat history, from the very beginning to the very end. Thousands of pages. Mike never said he liked her, never said he loved her. But he would brag to her about a new recipe he’d perfected. He’d send her a goofy, teary-eyed dragon meme asking for sympathy. When the temperature plunged, he’d ask her if she’d switched to a warmer blanket… “Huge storm tonight, there might be thunder. Is your Leo scared of it?” “Not at all! He’s a brave little guy. It’s me, his mom, who gets so scared I can’t sleep.” “Don’t worry. If you’re scared, I’ll stay up and chat with you until you fall asleep.” He followed it with a GIF of a cat flexing its muscles. “Okay!” she replied, with a GIF of a cat throwing confetti. He hadn’t sent me a GIF in years. That was the night of the storm of the century, when thunder cracked over the city all night long. I was trapped at the office, unable to get a cab, and ended up huddled in my desk chair, terrified, snatching bits of restless sleep. He’d sent me one text confirming I wasn’t coming home, and then… silence. All his comfort, all his care, had been funneled to another woman. As dawn broke, he stirred. His eyes fluttered open and landed on me, sitting up in bed, his phone in my hand. He froze for a fraction of a second before casually wrapping an arm around me, smoothly plucking the phone from my grasp. “You’re up early. It’s your day off, isn’t it? Come back to sleep with me.” He nuzzled my neck, not a trace of panic in his voice. I snatched the phone back, opened the chat with “Leo’s Mom,” and shoved the screen in his face. “Don’t you have something you want to explain to me?” I asked, my voice a carefully constructed wall of calm. “Oh. Lily’s good friend at preschool is named Leo. That’s his mom. I just ask her for parenting tips sometimes.” “If it makes you unhappy, I’ll delete her.” And just like that, he tapped the red delete button. It was done. He looked me straight in the eye, his gaze clear and open. Suddenly, my all-night anguish felt absurd, like a fit of baseless jealousy. He made it seem like I was the one making a big deal out of nothing. I said nothing. He tightened his arm around my waist and started tickling me. “Come on, my beautiful wife, it’s the weekend. Give that brilliant brain of yours a rest. She’s nobody important. You’re the only one I love, always.” He teased and tickled until I was breathless with laughter, and for a moment, the dark thoughts were pushed aside. And just like that, it was over. After all, we had been in love for eight years. We had our daughter. 2 After he deleted “Leo’s Mom,” my old habit of never touching his phone vanished. I started checking it from time to time. He never stopped me. And I never again found any suspicious chats with other women. Our life slid back onto its comfortable tracks. As usual, he would drop Lily off at preschool after I left for work. One day, my company organized a family day event. I was on my way back from a client meeting and passed right by the preschool, so I decided to pick Lily up myself. From a distance, I saw them sitting on a bench in the little park next to the school. A delicate-looking woman with long hair and a gentle air was speaking to Mike. “She found out, didn’t she, Mike? She’s the one who deleted me.” I froze. “Yeah, she wasn’t happy,” he said. “But I got a new phone. If you need anything, you can call me on this number.” He handed her a brand-new phone. “You should use this to call me from now on,” she said, her voice soft. “Your old one is so slow. Think of this as a thank you gift for making Lily breakfast all those times.” And the phone he was holding, his own phone, was clearly the matching pair to the one he’d just given her. My hand tightened around my own phone, its paint peeling at the edges. The cold metal dug into my palm. It was one of the matching family phones he’d bought when I was pregnant with Lily. One for him, one for me, and one for our baby. I remember him holding me close, his cheek pressed to my belly, whispering, “Sweetheart, Mommy and Daddy and you will all have the same phone. By the time you’re five, it will be filled with all our happy memories.” “And if they get old,” he’d promised, “we’ll get a new set together. A new family of phones for our family of three.” Lily was four now. Not quite five. But he couldn’t wait. A wave of hollow pain, carried on the autumn wind, crawled up my legs and seized my heart. But I had Lily. We had been through so much together. My parents and my brother died in a car crash when I was in college. I lost my entire family in a single night. He was the one who stayed by my side, day and night, a steady anchor in the crushing darkness. He held me together when I was falling apart. Without him, I might have just faded away in that house filled with the ghosts of their laughter and love. And after Lily was born, he was the one who encouraged me to chase my dreams. He voluntarily gave up his high-paying job to stay home and take care of her. The memories of his love were countless, undeniable… He had loved me so, so much. I stared at my husband, bathed in the gentle sunlight, speaking so softly to another woman, and my world began to feel unreal. They hadn’t really done anything, had they? Not really. Maybe I’d mistaken the phones. It was just a phone, a thank you gift for making breakfast… I tried to crush the ache in my chest. Mike stood up and saw me. I forced a smile and walked over, linking my arm through his. “Still here? Who’s this?” “When did you get here?” Mike asked, sidestepping my question. I could feel his body tense up. “Just now,” I said, leaning in to give him a cheerful kiss. He visibly relaxed, the warm, smiling Mike returning. “This is Leo’s mom. I wasn’t great at making breakfast, so she used to bring some for Lily.” “We were just talking about picky eaters,” he added. Leo’s mom, Sophia, glanced at Mike and then laughed, covering her mouth. “You two are so sweet together. No wonder Lily is so adorable.” “Well, I won’t keep you. I should get going,” she said. She held up the new phone Mike had given her, wiggling it in a little wave. The screen caught the sun, flashing a sharp glare directly into my eyes. It stung. My grip on Mike’s arm tightened, harder and harder, until he winced and murmured, “Elara, what’s wrong? You’re hurting me.” I snapped back to reality, leaning my head on his shoulder coquettishly. “Mike, can you blow in my eye? I think I got something in it.” He bent down, his hands gently on my shoulders, and carefully blew into my eye. The air from his lips was cool against my skin, and my eyes began to water. The tears welled up, spilling over, a silent, unstoppable stream. Through the shimmering blur, his face grew indistinct. What am I going to do? I still love you so much. 3 The weather turned colder, and Lily’s preschool was about to break for the winter holidays. Maybe my breakdown in the park had shaken him, because the new phone he’d bought never lit up. But I couldn’t shake the unease coiling in my gut. One evening after dinner, while Lily was playing in the living room, I brought it up. “Mike, I’m up for a promotion. After the New Year, I might be transferred to the head office in Bridgewater to be a department director. I was thinking we could all move there together.” “My parents are in Bridgewater anyway,” I continued, rambling on. “We wouldn’t have to come back. We can just put the house here on the market.” “The schools are better there, too. It would be a better environment for Lily to grow up in…” He was unusually quiet for a long time. But in the end, he agreed. That night, the new phone disappeared from his drawer. He took Lily out for a walk that lasted an hour. Watching him from the window, carrying our daughter back towards the building, I told myself that once they had no more excuses, no more opportunities to see each other, everything would be fine. Mike would be my Mike again. Due to work commitments, I took Lily to Bridgewater ahead of schedule. I left her with my parents while I sorted out her school enrollment. Mike stayed behind to handle the sale of our house, planning to join us in a couple of days. Two days later, he called. “I’ve found a buyer,” he said, “but they’re being difficult about a few things. I’m trying to negotiate. I’ll be there the day after tomorrow.” I could hear the supposed buyer in the background, loudly picking apart our home. I didn’t doubt him. I just told him to take care of himself and to dress warmly. The next day was Mike’s birthday. That afternoon, Lily and I video-called him to sing “Happy Birthday.” But later that night, after working late, I came home to an empty apartment, and the loneliness hit me like a tidal wave. I missed him so much it was a physical ache. We hadn’t been apart this long in years, and especially not on his birthday. I booked a flight for that same night, took a few days off work, and decided to fly back to surprise him. I’d help him finish up with the house, and we’d come back together. My heart hammered in my chest, a frantic drumbeat of longing. I landed, grabbed a taxi, and even stopped to buy a birthday cake. I practically ran the whole way back to our building. Standing downstairs, I saw the warm, yellow glow of light in our apartment window. It was late. Normally, he’d be in bed by now, holding me. I pressed the elevator button several times, but one of the cars was stuck on the 16th floor—our floor. With no time to think, I bolted for the stairs, taking them two at a time, my lungs burning by the time I reached the top. Our front door was slightly ajar. The apartment was a mess, probably from the packing. I smiled to myself, tiptoeing toward the bedroom, planning my surprise. But my next step never landed. I was frozen in place.

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I walked in the door after working late, and my husband told me he was in love with someone else. “I just want a divorce. I want to be with her,” he said, pushing a document across the table. “I’ll walk away with nothing if I have to.” I stared at the divorce papers. And then, a breath I didn’t know I was holding escaped me. “Fine,” I said. “I agree.” It’s human nature to tire of the old and crave the new. And I was no different. 1 Jason stared at me, dumbfounded. “You… you’re just agreeing? Just like that?” A cold laugh escaped my lips, dripping with a sarcasm I didn’t bother to hide. “What did you expect?” “Oh, right. I’m supposed to scream and demand to know who she is, aren’t I?” I said, my voice sharp. “And then break down in tears, begging you not to leave? Begging you not to divorce me?” I leaned forward. “On one hand, you’re willing to give up everything just to leave me. On the other, you want me to beg you to stay. So which is it, Jason? Are you trying to leave or not? Is your left brain fighting your right?” He was speechless. I ignored him, picking up the divorce papers and scanning them carefully. Seeing no issues, I reached for my handbag to get a pen. Jason had been in such a rush to drag me in here that I hadn’t even had time to hang it up. Home from a long day at work, and not even a warm meal waiting. He hadn’t even asked why I was so late. He’d just launched straight into the divorce. I was done with these cold, empty days. I pulled a fountain pen from my bag and signed both copies with a swift, clean stroke. Capping it, I stared down at the pen in my hand, its color faded and worn. It was a gift for our first anniversary. Jason had spent half a month’s part-time pay on it. After nearly twenty years, it was battered and old. Time for something new. I dropped the pen into the trash can. “We’ll get the paperwork filed tomorrow morning,” I said, and walked out without a backward glance. 2 I went to my daughter Maya’s room. She had her back to me, burrowed under the covers. I walked over and sat on the edge of her bed. “Don’t pretend to be asleep. I know you saw everything.” After a long moment, she turned over and sat up. Her eyes were red-rimmed. “Mom, Dad doesn’t want us anymore, does he?” I sighed inwardly. At almost forty, I’d seen my share of goodbyes and loss; I could accept this separation. But Maya was only twelve. In her eyes, her parents were her entire world. After Jason and I split, no matter who she ended up with, half of that world was going to collapse. But she was a part of this family. She deserved to know about every change. I told her the truth. “Yes, your father asked for a divorce, and I agreed. But we’re only stopping being husband and wife. We will always be the mom and dad who love you most.” Maya looked at me, and tears streamed down her face like a broken dam. “Mom, I’m so sorry…” she sobbed, covering her face with her hands. The tears leaked through her fingers. I was confused. Wasn’t that my line? I gently pulled her hands away and wiped her tears. “What’s wrong? Why are you apologizing to me?” Her shoulders shook with hiccuping sobs. “The last time… the last time Dad picked me up from school, he was with a pretty lady.” “He said she was his assistant, but when he was driving, she kept leaning against him… and her hand was on his leg.” “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to hide it from you, I just… I didn’t know how to tell you.” My hand clenched the bedsheet, my gaze turning to ice. How dare he. How dare he flaunt his affair in front of our daughter. I let out a slow breath and pulled her into a hug, my heart aching for her. “Maya, this is not your fault.” “Anyone would be confused in that situation. If it were me, I would have done the same thing.” Maya pulled back, her tear-filled eyes looking up at me pitifully. “Mom, do you still want me?” I was taken aback for a second. I stroked the back of her head and smiled. “I think the question is, do you want to stay with me?” Maya sniffled and nodded so hard her head bobbed. I pinched her cheek gently. “Okay. You have school tomorrow, so get some sleep.” She obediently lay down. After she had drifted off, I turned off the light and quietly left the room. 3 The next day, Jason and I went to file the divorce papers. Afterward, he started packing his things, getting ready to move out. Neither Maya nor I asked if he needed help. We moved around him as if he were invisible. But that evening, when I came home from work, Jason stopped me. “Your mother called me today.” My heart jumped into my throat. “She said your brother Ryan lost his job and she wants me to help him out, give him a position at my company.” “It’s not a big deal for me, so I agreed. But I figured I should let you know.” Before he’d even finished, I had my phone out, dialing my mother’s number on speaker. She picked up almost immediately. “Mom, Ryan needs to find a job on his own.” “Jason and I are divorced. Don’t call him for things like this anymore.” “Divorced? When? Why?” “Tyner, you—” I knew what was coming next. A lecture about why I shouldn’t get divorced. She always did like Jason more than she liked me. I cut her off. “Jason is having an affair. We are divorced. We are done. Do you understand?” There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end. I used the opportunity to hang up. When I looked up, Jason’s face was beet red. He clearly hadn’t expected me to be so blunt with my mother. My phone buzzed. It was my mom calling back. I declined the call and stood up to leave. If we were going to fight, I wasn’t going to do it in front of him. But he grabbed my wrist. “Tyner, it’s just a job for Ryan. It’s a small thing. You don’t have to refuse me and fight with your mom over it.” I hated fighting with my mother. But I hated the idea of being indebted to Jason even more. Before, he was my husband. We were family. Now, he was just the father of my child. Nothing more than a stranger. I yanked my arm away. “I’ll handle this myself. Stay out of it.” He blocked my path, his voice laced with a mixture of confusion and frustration. “You’d rather fight with your mom than accept my help? Why?” I sighed, then let out a soft, sharp laugh. “Do I need to remind you that we’re divorced?” Jason’s face went pale. “Yes, we’re divorced, but we were together for twenty years. If we can’t be husband and wife, can’t we at least be friends?” The idea was so absurd I had to laugh. “Friends with your ex-wife? Have you asked your new girlfriend if she’s okay with that?” The color drained completely from his face, his expression crumbling. He just stood there, frozen. 4 My phone was still ringing. I brushed past Jason and headed for the stairwell to take the call. The moment I answered, my mother’s shrill voice nearly shattered my eardrum. “Tyner, tell me clearly, are you really divorced from Jason?” “Yes, we are.” Her voice cracked with panic. “How could you divorce him? He’s the CEO of a big company now! Where are you going to find another man that good, especially at your age? You’re almost forty!” “Besides,” she went on, “what man doesn’t stray a little? You just have to put up with it, and it passes.” “Look at me, didn’t I put up with it? Listen to your mother, don’t get divorced. If you do, you’ll have nothing.” I suddenly felt the sting of tears. An image of my philandering father flashed in my mind, his cold, indifferent face as he watched my mother beg him to stay. I had urged my mother to divorce him. But she hadn’t worked since she got married. If she left him, she couldn’t even support herself, let alone my brother and me. So she stayed, practically begging him for money, refusing to let the other woman win. She wasted her life in that rotten marriage until the day he died. A sarcastic laugh bubbled up in my throat. “So I’m supposed to be like you? Suffer my whole life?” She went silent. When she spoke again, her voice was sharp with agitation. “What else can you do? Life is about endurance!” “And what about your brother? What’s he going to do now that you’re divorced?” I knew it. It always came back to Ryan. Jason was the son-in-law who made her look good, the one who had helped Ryan out of countless jams. She wasn’t about to let that go. “Then why don’t you have Ryan go live with Jason? Since the spot for Mrs. Thorne is open, he can go for it.” “You—” I had no patience for her nagging, and even less for a fight. I cut her off. “I am not you. I don’t have to endure anything. I can support myself and my child just fine on my own.” “I’m informing you of my divorce, not asking for your opinion. And don’t worry, it won’t affect the monthly support I send you.” “What you do with that money is your business, but don’t expect a penny more.” I hung up, leaning my head back against the cool wall and exhaling slowly. But a tear escaped anyway, sliding down my cheek. I wiped it away before heading back inside. That’s just how it is when you’re an adult. Even your tears have to be shed in secret. 5 My mom called a few more times after that, always circling back to getting Ryan a job. But he was a grown man with two hands and two feet. He wasn’t going to starve. I refused to help. Realizing I wouldn’t budge, she finally gave up. Jason moved out. The night he left, I heard Maya crying in her room. I didn’t go in. Kids have their own private worlds, their own griefs they need to process alone. The days of the cooling-off period ticked by. Jason and I had no contact. Until one afternoon, after a long meeting, I checked my phone and saw dozens of missed calls. All from him. And a text message. [I’m downstairs at your office. Come down when you see this.] For Jason to show up at my work, it must be something serious. I hurried downstairs. As I reached the lobby, I saw him pacing nervously by the entrance. “What’s going on?” I asked as I approached. He started to speak, but was interrupted by a colleague walking in. “Afternoon, Tyner.” Jason froze, his eyes widening as he stared at me. “You… when did you become a Director?” “Last year,” I said calmly. “How come you never told me?” I looked down. A few years ago, when I was promoted to Manager, I had rushed home, bursting with excitement to tell him. All I got was a flat “Congratulations,” and nothing more. I remembered when I’d made Assistant Team Lead. He had been more excited than I was. He insisted on taking me out to celebrate. Jason, who never spent more than twenty bucks on a meal, treated me to a huge lobster dinner that cost hundreds. But when did it all change? When did promotions stop being a cause for celebration? When did wedding anniversaries become just a formal bouquet of flowers? When did we stop even saying “happy birthday” to each other? We no longer went out for movies or walks on the weekend. Even eating at the same table became a silent affair. We stopped asking about each other’s work. Besides our daughter, it felt like we had nothing left to talk about. In a marriage like that, what difference did it make whether I told him or not? 6 A wave of exhaustion washed over me. I had no desire to get tangled up with him. “You came all this way. What’s so urgent?” I asked, changing the subject. Jason hesitated, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “My mom just called,” he finally said. “Her birthday is this weekend. She wants the family to get together for a meal.” I raised an eyebrow. He’d come all the way to my office just because his mother wanted to have a birthday dinner? I didn’t know what game he was playing, and I didn’t care enough to ask. “Fine. I’ll tell Maya. You can pick her up then.” I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm again. I glanced at him, then down at his hand gripping my wrist. He quickly let go, looking embarrassed. “What I mean is… I was hoping you’d come too.” I frowned. “What are you talking about? You haven’t told your mother we’re divorced?” Jason looked pained. “Well…” he stammered, “can we… not tell her about the divorce just yet?” His voice was almost a plea. “She has high blood pressure. I’m afraid the shock—” “And you didn’t think of that when you asked for a divorce?” I shot back. He fell silent, looking down in embarrassment. I sighed. After Maya was born, I was desperate to re-establish myself at work and was swamped. Jason was busy launching his own startup. It was his mother who had stepped in to help with the baby, saving us. It was only in the last couple of years, when her health declined, that she moved into a retirement community so she wouldn’t be a burden. She had always been good to me. I respected her, and I didn’t want anything to happen to her. “I’ll agree to this, just this once,” I said. “But you need to find the right time to tell her yourself, before the divorce is finalized.” Jason let out a huge sigh of relief. “Tyner, thank you.” I just gave a slight nod and headed back upstairs. That weekend, I took Maya to the retirement community. Jason was already waiting for us at the entrance. We went in together. His mother was overjoyed to see us. One moment she was pressing a red envelope into Maya’s hand, the next she was holding my arm, asking me how I’d been. The atmosphere was warm and happy. Until a soft, sweet voice cut through the chatter. “Happy birthday, Mom!” We all turned. A young woman stood in the doorway. She looked like she had just graduated a year or two ago—young, beautiful, and full of life. Jason looked like he’d seen a ghost. He rushed forward to block her from coming any further. “Chloe, what are you doing here?” Suddenly, Maya tugged on my sleeve, her face pale. She leaned in and whispered, “Mom, that’s the young lady from Dad’s car. The assistant…”

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I was carrying a heavy bag of dog food upstairs when my new neighbor, a short, stout man, blocked my path. “You feed your dog this garbage? Do you even deserve a dog?” “Why are you so lazy? You should be cooking for it with premium ingredients!” “This is basically animal abuse. People like you, pretending to be virtuous, make me sick.” Before I could react, he slashed my bag of dog food open with a pair of scissors, spilling kibble everywhere. “Consider this a warning,” he sneered, turning to leave. I grabbed his wrist. “That bag cost me $250! You either pay up now, or we’re going to the police station!” 1 I’m a volunteer at the local animal shelter. I help trap strays for TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) and medical care. Sometimes, I dip into my own pocket to foster injured animals. Lately, the stray population in our neighborhood has exploded. I couldn’t help but take in a few more wounded souls. Animals eat a lot and poop a lot. My wallet was hurting. Suddenly, something furry brushed against my leg. It was Fuzzy, a stray dog I’d recently rescued, begging for cuddles. I scooped him up and gave him a big sniff. Mommy loves you! Mommy’s gonna buy you food right now. Because I need so much food, I order in bulk directly from a local breeder who gives me a discount to support my rescue work. I drove my Mini Cooper to pick up a 100-pound bag of dog food. That should last a few months. I was struggling to drag the bag toward the elevator when my new neighbor, Roger, appeared out of nowhere. “You feed your dog this garbage? Do you even deserve a dog?” I was stunned. Our neighbors are usually lovely people who support my rescue efforts. This was the first time someone had pointed a finger in my face. My temper flared. “Who the hell are you? None of your business what I feed my dogs! Jealous no one’s feeding you?” I thought that would shut him up. Instead, he put his hands on his hips and launched into a tirade. “You don’t deserve a dog! Why are you so lazy? You should be cooking for it with premium ingredients!” “This is basically animal abuse. People like you, pretending to be virtuous, make me sick! The most disgusting thing about ‘dog lovers’ like you is how cheap you are. Dogs love meat! They need the best meat! Who said you could feed them this starch-filled crap?” I snapped. “Did you skip your rabies shot? Dogs are omnivores! They need vegetables too! This kibble is high quality, used by professionals for years.” “Stop pretending you know what you’re talking about, you idiot!” I shoved past him. “Move! You’re lucky I’m an animal lover, or someone might mistake you for a wild boar and turn you into bacon!” I tried to drag the bag to the elevator. 100 pounds of kibble vs. my 140 pounds of body weight was a struggle. I barely took two steps before someone kicked me from behind. I stumbled. Roger stepped over me, whipped out a pair of scissors, and slashed the bag open. “Let’s see you feed them now!” he roared, slashing repeatedly. Kibble spilled all over the floor. My blood boiled. He smirked, triumphant. “Next time, cook real food! Premium beef! If I catch you feeding them this trash again, I’ll destroy it every time!” He turned to leave. I laughed in disbelief. Who did he think he was? I grabbed his wrist. “That bag cost me $250! You either pay up now, or we’re going to the police station!” 2 He didn’t expect me to fight back. He tried to shake me off, but despite being a man, he was barely 5’5″. I’m 5’8″, 140 lbs, and I lift. Plus, wrestling stray dogs gives you a hell of a grip. I twisted his arm behind his back. “Pay up! Or I’m calling 911!” “I’m not paying! Don’t try to scam me! That’s cheap garbage kibble, probably worth five bucks! Let go, you crazy b*tch!” He stomped his feet like a toddler throwing a tantrum. Or a wild boar caught in a trap. His screaming attracted a few neighbors coming home. “What’s going on?” Roger immediately switched to victim mode. “Oh god! She’s crazy! I just moved in! She’s bullying me!” “She was feeding poison to her dogs! I tried to stop her, and she attacked me!” “Look at her! Does she look like an animal lover? She’s an abuser!” Wow, give this man an Oscar. The snot and tears were a nice touch. Disgusting. He wailed for a while before realizing no one was buying it. Everyone knew me. They knew I spent my weekends rescuing kittens from storm drains. I kicked him in the butt, sending him sprawling a few feet away. He scrambled up to run. I sprinted over, grabbed his collar, and shoved my phone in his face. “Look closely! That’s the bank transfer receipt for the kibble. $250. Pay up. I’m counting to three. Three, two…” Before I even got to one, he folded. “Fine! Fine! I’ll pay! Just my luck running into a psycho like you.” “No wonder you’re single! With a temper like that, no man would want you!” He Venmo’d me the money and ran off, covered in dirt, cursing all the way. $250 richer. Nice. I swept up the spilled kibble into the trash, but managed to salvage about half the bag that hadn’t touched the dirty floor. I bagged it up for the community stray feeding stations. I vacuum-sealed the rest for my own pets. Dealing with an idiot was annoying, but hey, free dog food. 3 The next morning, I stepped out of my apartment and almost slipped on a puddle of greasy, soapy water. Food scraps were everywhere. The smell made me gag. “Who the hell dumped their dishwater in the hallway?” I shouted. The door opposite mine opened. Roger’s wife stepped out, holding a red banner that read: PROTECT ANIMALS. FEEDING KIBBLE IS MURDER. She was even larger than Roger, with bad skin and a mean face. “So you’re the evil woman feeding starch to dogs?” “You look like a tramp. Bet you use those dogs for ‘unspeakable things’ you film for the internet.” She leered at me. “Since you’re so into bestiality, maybe feed your ‘husband’ better food. You scammed my husband out of $250 yesterday. Buy some steak for your dog-husband.” “If I find out you spent a penny of my husband’s money on yourself, I’ll tear that pretty face off!” What. The. Actual. F*ck. Who did I offend in a past life? First of all, my kibble is mid-range, perfectly fine for most families. $2.50 a pound isn’t cheap when you’re feeding an army. I have five cats and eight dogs at home. Keeping them fed is a struggle. These lunatics haven’t spent a dime on rescue, yet they stand there judging me? And the accusations? Disgusting. Animals are innocent. What kind of twisted mind goes there immediately? I couldn’t take it anymore. I ran back inside, grabbed the litter scoop, and dug up a fresh clump from the litter box. The woman was still gloating outside. “What? Truth hurt? I knew you sluts were all the sa—AGHHH!” Before she could finish, I shoved the clump of cat poop right into her open mouth. She gagged, eyes rolling back. “Blargh… urggh!” “Guess what that is?” I laughed until tears came out. “Want to know? Taste it!” “Eat up! If that’s not enough, I have plenty more!” I waved the bag of poop. She looked terrified and tried to run back into her apartment. Roger heard the commotion and tried to come out to help, but his wife was blocking the door, heaving and retching. He saw me and wanted revenge for the $250. He pushed against her to get out. Two propane-tank-sized people wedged in a doorway. I saw my chance. I lunged forward and shoved a scoopful into Roger’s mouth too. “No need to fight! Plenty for everyone! My cats are very productive!” Roger’s eyes bulged. He puked all over the floor. Disgusted, I slammed their door shut for them. Too gross. I lost my appetite for breakfast. I stared at their closed door. An idea formed. Since they loved it so much, I shouldn’t be stingy. I went back inside. The cats had just finished breakfast and were lining up for the litter box. One fresh turd after another. Yes! Good kitties! Mommy’s little poop factories! My eyes lit up. “Don’t rush! One at a time! Make it a big one! Mommy needs ammo!” I carefully arranged the fresh, milk-scented litter clumps into a heart shape right outside their door. Then I left, satisfied. 4 I didn’t want to be around when they opened the door. I ran to my best friend, Lily’s place, and jumped straight into the shower. Cat poop smells potent. I felt like the scent had seeped into my skin. Lily was confused but used to my antics. She just went to the kitchen to cook. Lily and I grew up together. She became a journalist; I became a freelance writer. We weren’t rich, but we got by. Since I started rescuing animals, though, I’ve been relying on her for meals a lot. We were supposed to go shopping at 10 AM, but the Crazy Couple delayed me until noon. Luckily, Lily loves me. Instead of being mad, she made hot pot. I sat there with a towel on my head, eating beef and veggies, telling her about my morning. When I got to the cat litter part, we both laughed until our sides hurt. “Ew, stop,” Lily grimaced, laughing. “I’m eating! Too gross!” “More for me then!” I grinned, stealing her beef. The news came on the TV. Lily glanced at it. “Oh yeah, I transferred departments. I’m working with the police on a crime beat now. They’re tracking a human trafficking ring.” “They target women our age. They use all kinds of tricks—fake distress calls, accusing women of being mistresses to create a scene and snatch them. They’re getting creative.” “One victim was a girl who rescued strays. She gave her address to someone claiming to want to adopt, and they staked her out. She’s still missing. Probably…” We fell silent. The world is scary. Even doing good deeds can get you killed. “Don’t worry,” I said finally, flexing my bicep. “I can take care of myself. Check out these guns.” Lily laughed and pushed me away. After lunch, we went shopping. But we hadn’t gone far when we ran into them. “Speak of the devil. The Crazy Couple.” I rolled my eyes. “Bad luck. Let’s go.” “Who? The animal protection nutjobs?” Lily asked. “Yeah. Run. I left them a ‘gift’ this morning, they’re probably out for blood.” But we weren’t fast enough. Roger and his wife, Clara, spotted us. They were eating at a roadside noodle stall, bowls in hand. Roger charged at me, face twisted in rage. “You btch! You put cat sht at my door! I stepped right in it!” I dodged his punch. “I thought you loved animals! Aren’t you supposed to love every part of them? Even their poop is a gift from nature! Hypocrites!” Lily and I cracked up. Roger and Clara turned purple. Clara roared, “Die, you slut! How dare you make me eat sh*t!” She was surprisingly agile for her size. I couldn’t dodge in time. A bowl of noodles slammed into my face. Grease and sauce dripped down my chin. They smirked, finally getting a win. But then the smell hit me. That wasn’t beef or pork. I looked at the noodle stall owner, who looked horrified. It was dog meat. Most pet owners won’t touch dog meat. The thought of eating something that could be their own pet is repulsive. Especially for these two “animal rights activists.” I wiped my face and sneered. “I thought feeding kibble was abuse? What do you call eating a dog? Hypocrites doesn’t even cover it.” “Real animal lovers don’t eat dog meat.” Roger panicked. “Bullsh*t! We love dogs! We’d never eat them!” “How were we supposed to know? This stall is so cheap, it’s probably… probably human meat!” His eyes darted around, sweat beading on his forehead. Clara covered his mouth. “It’s synthetic meat! Restaurants use it all the time! Cheap and lasts forever. I bet it’s synthetic!” I burst out laughing. These two were terrible liars. It was lunchtime. The street was busy. The stall owner’s face went from shocked to murderous. “Bullsh*t! This is real dog meat! Everyone knows where I get my meat!” “Are you trying to ruin my business? Get lost! I’m not serving you anymore!” Roger realized he messed up. “Wait, boss, no! Your business is great! I just misspoke!” “Folks, don’t listen to us! This meat is fresh! Slaughtered daily! Come buy some!” He tried to fix it, but the owner waved him away like a fly. “Get out of here!” Lily and I walked away, laughing.

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Summer break had just started when my sister-in-law decided to dump her two kids at my place. She sent me a list of demands: “Biggie only likes pizza and burgers. Smalls needs meat at every meal.” “Take them on a trip once a week. Local is fine, but keep them safe.” “It’s hot out, so don’t be cheap with the AC!” Reading these messages, I laughed in disbelief. “Does your sister think she’s the Queen of England? She’s not paying a dime but has all these demands? Do I owe her something?” My husband, trying to soothe me, said, “Honey, don’t be mad. My sister was so good to me growing up. I owe her. Please, just endure it for a month!” I sneered. “A month, huh? No problem.” I immediately made a call and summoned my own two nephews—strapping teenage boys built like linebackers—to come stay with us too. Let’s see who breaks first! 1 My name is Lindsey, and I’m an elementary school teacher. Theoretically, summer break is my time to relax and recharge. But ever since I got married and had a kid, summer break has lost its meaning. The first few years, my son was small, so I was busy taking care of him and the house. Last year, my son, Hayden, finally turned four. But then my sister-in-law, Karen, suddenly announced she was sending her two sons to our place for the summer. Her excuse? Since I’m a teacher, I could tutor them, and her brother (my husband) could take them sightseeing. The first time, I actually welcomed them. Hayden is an only child and gets lonely, so I thought having two older cousins around would be fun for him. But distance makes the heart grow fonder, and proximity breeds contempt. Once those kids arrived, I realized how naive I had been. Karen’s sons were absolute nightmares. Biggie is four years older than Hayden, and Smalls is two years older. These two were constantly loud, fighting, and never gave us a moment of peace. They ate like horses but were incredibly picky, throwing tantrums over the smallest things. When we took them places, they either complained about the heat or demanded expensive snacks and drinks. I spent a fortune and a ton of energy, only for my own son to be bullied and sidelined. And the kicker? When they went home, they complained to their mom. They told her I didn’t host them well. Karen called my husband multiple times, passive-aggressively criticizing my hospitality. It was infuriating! After that experience, I swore I would never host those brats again! But this summer, Karen wanted to send them over again. 2 When my husband brought it up, I nearly exploded! “Did you forget how last year went?” “Wasn’t your sister unhappy? Why send them again if she wasn’t satisfied?” “Let me be clear: I am not hosting them this time!” I was firm. My husband looked pained. “Honey, I know it’s hard on you, but my sister really has it tough.” “She and her husband run that food stall from dawn to dusk and barely make ends meet. The kids are pitiful during the summer. Coming here gives them a chance to have some fun.” “Just do it for me, please?” I gasped. “One word. Two letters. No!” Who do you think you are? Your “face” isn’t worth that much! My husband sighed dramatically. “Honey, my sister really was good to me. When we were poor, the family could only afford college for one kid. She gave up her spot and went to work to pay for my tuition… I can never forget that…” Here we go. The emotional blackmail card! I wasn’t buying it. I snorted. “You owe your sister, I don’t. Summer break is my time to rest. Why should I serve these two little princes? If you owe a debt, you pay it! What is this, the feudal era where the wife pays the husband’s debts?” He doesn’t get a summer break. He sits in his air-conditioned office all day “enjoying life.” I’m the one at home dealing with the chaos, cooking and cleaning for ungrateful brats! My husband: “…” We argued about this several times, always ending in a stalemate. After a few days of deadlock, my mother-in-law called. “Lindsey, I know this puts you in a tough spot. Don’t be angry.” My mother-in-law treats me well. Even though they live in our hometown, they never trouble us and often send us homegrown produce and rice to help out. I couldn’t get mad at her. “Lindsey, I know it’s a lot of work. How about this? I’ll send you $500. Keep it. If it’s not enough, I’ll send more.” I quickly said, “Mom, it’s not about the money!” She continued, “The three boys are cousins. Living far apart, they don’t see each other much. We want them to be close. Hayden is an only child. Getting along with his cousins means he’ll have support in the future!” “…” When an elder puts it that way, it’s hard to refuse. I sighed. “Mom, I understand. I’ll think about it.” 3 After hanging up, my resolve softened. Honestly, that was my original thought the first time. Hayden being an only child might be lonely. Having cousins would be good. Seeing my husband so stressed made me hesitate. I have a close relationship with my own brother back home. If I were in his shoes, I’d be torn too. I started gaslighting myself. Maybe a year later, the kids have matured? It’s just a month. We can survive it. I didn’t want everyone to be unhappy. So, reluctantly, I agreed. My husband was overjoyed, hugging and kissing me. “Honey, you are the best! So virtuous and generous! I’m so lucky to have you!” I forced a smile. I thought my sacrifice would be appreciated. But Karen didn’t see it that way. Right before sending the kids, she texted me. Started with pleasantries, then went off the rails. “Sis, my boys are picky eaters. Biggie only likes pizza and burgers. Smalls needs meat at every meal.” “Transportation is good in your city. Take them on a trip once a week. Local is fine, but keep them safe. Watch out for water and stuff.” “Also, it’s hot. Don’t be cheap with the AC! Boys run hot!” Reading these, my chest felt like it was going to explode! The audacity! 4 I furiously forwarded the messages to my husband. He called back immediately. “Honey, don’t be mad. My sister didn’t mean it like that.” I gritted my teeth. “What does she mean then? She’s not paying a dime, yet has the nerve to demand things? Am I her maid?” Just because I have summer break doesn’t mean I deserve this! Honestly, I didn’t even want this vacation anymore. What’s the point? “What does your sister want? For me to serve her precious sons like a servant?” “Tell her, if she pays up, I’ll provide the service! If she pays nothing and demands everything, tell her not to send them. I can’t serve them!” Marriage isn’t supposed to be a punishment! Why should I take this crap? My husband sounded anxious. “Lindsey, please. Do it for my mom? My parents treat us well! They’re good to Hayden!” “Besides, the tickets are booked. Telling them not to come now would be really bad!” “She’s just talking. Ignore her!” I took a deep breath. “So you’re dead set on having them come, right?” He sighed. “If we say no now, it’ll cause a feud! Honey, just this once, okay? The kids are excited, and I can’t explain it to my parents!” I said viciously, “Fine. They can come. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. Don’t regret it later!” After hanging up, I called my sister-in-law (my brother’s wife). “Send my nephews over for the summer!” My nephews are 12 and 14. One is 5’11”, the other is 6’1″. You want a full house? I’ll give you a full house! I’m going to make this a summer to remember! 5 My sister-in-law, Sarah, is ten years older than me and has always treated me like a little sister. When she first married my brother, she always took me out and bought me treats. Hearing my invitation, she immediately said, “You finally get a break. You should rest!” I said, “Sarah, don’t be polite. I miss Alex and Ben.” Sarah hesitated. “Won’t it be too much trouble? Hayden is still small. Don’t tire yourself out.” See? That’s real family. Considering my feelings. Unlike Karen, who only thinks of herself. After much persuasion, Sarah finally agreed. “Okay, just for a week. If it’s too much, send them back.” I assured her, “Don’t worry! Hayden misses his big cousins!” I used to tutor Alex and Ben when they were little. We have a great bond. Since getting married and moving away, I see them less. My husband wants to bond with his nephews? He wants to help his sister? Fine. He can care for his kin, and I’ll care for mine. My brother and Sarah both work full-time. Summer is hard for them too. Since Karen’s kids are coming hell or high water, let’s make it fair. Everyone comes! After the call, Sarah immediately Venmo’d me $800. I tried to refuse, but she insisted. “Remember when you watched Alex in college? I gave you pocket money then too. Take it!” I was moved. The difference between my family and his family is night and day.

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In the second year of being a military courtesan, I got pregnant. Every soldier who had been in my tent fought to claim the baby as his. Jack Stone had only visited me for one night, but he knelt before me and said: “Miss Yang, I’m going to the front lines as a vanguard. My parents only have me left. I need to leave them something to remember me by.” Later, I went to his hometown and met the best parents in the world. 1 Three new women arrived at the camp. The steward told me to help them get cleaned up. Fresh meat for the General to inspect first. Just like us, half a year ago. Back then, there were three of us too: me, Jasmine, and Ivy. Only Jasmine caught the General’s eye. If you catch his eye, you only serve him. If you don’t, you serve the entire camp. These three clearly knew the rules. The prettiest one slipped five copper coins into my hand. “Sister, please don’t mind the small amount. If the General picks me, I promise I’ll give you a gold ingot. Does the General have any preferences?” Everyone here is desperate. Five copper coins were all she had. Her eyes were fixed on me, staring at hope itself. I took out a red sachet from my pocket and hung it on her. I whispered, “The General loves red. This sachet might help you.” She left happily, only to be drugged and sent into the tent. None of the three were chosen. If you’re not chosen, you become a common camp prostitute like me. Before this, we were all decent girls. No one wanted this life. The first time, we were all drugged. By the time we woke up, it was too late. Some kill themselves. But most decide that a bad life is better than no life. The girl named Autumn didn’t kill herself. She just cried and told me, “Sister Xiang, the gold ingot I promised is gone.” She didn’t know I personally made sure that gold ingot disappeared. The General didn’t like red. He hated it. To him, red was the color of blood. I couldn’t let her be chosen. If she was chosen, Jasmine would end up in these tents. 2 Half a year ago, the three of us were transported to the military camp together. I was plain-looking. The brothels wouldn’t take me. Once you’re registered as a military prostitute, it’s nearly impossible to redeem yourself. Even though I wasn’t pretty, the pay was about the same as a brothel, so my father sold me here. Ivy was a captive from the enemy nation. Female captives are treated the same on both sides. No soldier treated her like a human being. Especially when the war wasn’t going well, she was just a venting bag. Only Jasmine was different. She grew up in a wealthy household, the favorite maid of the old madam. She wore gold and silver and was almost made a concubine to the young master. But that almost didn’t happen. The new mistress kicked her out without dignity, and she was sold here. On the first day we met, she used her last bit of money to trade with the guards for a big piece of meat. She shared it with us and said, “Meeting is fate. Let’s look out for each other. As long as we don’t die, there’s always a future.” Not only did she not die, but on the first night, she became the General’s woman. And now, she’s the one who’s stayed by his side the longest. Normally, women are thrown back into the camp after three months. But it’s been eight months, and Jasmine is still living comfortably in the General’s tent. And she really did help us a lot. After eight months, Ivy was barely hanging on. She was kept alive by the meat and medicine Jasmine sent. I can’t say how I feel about Ivy. Without her country, there would be no military prostitutes. Maybe my father would have just sold me as a kitchen maid to some rich family. But when I met her, she was just a little girl, smaller and thinner than me. I couldn’t harden my heart enough to watch her die. People have their circles. They were my circle in this hellhole. So when Jasmine came to me, begging for help, I did it. I gave that sachet to Autumn. In return, I got a pill. Jasmine went through a lot of trouble to get it. Military prostitutes have to drink a contraceptive soup every ten days. Jasmine said this pill would neutralize it. Pregnancy is forbidden. But if you get pregnant despite the soup, it’s considered God’s will, and you can’t abort it. As long as a soldier claims it, you’re released from the registry to go to his hometown, be his wife, and raise the child. In this line of work, unless your parents are as cruel as mine, or your family committed a major crime, or you’re a captive, it’s hard to find someone to claim you. It’s hard to get out. Even with money, redemption is rare. But rumor has it that three years ago, one woman successfully left because she got pregnant. Jasmine grabbed my hand excitedly. “One of us has to leave this ghost place. I’ll give you all my savings. Go somewhere no one knows you, buy a house and land, raise a chubby baby, and live a normal life for Ivy and me.” 3 Three months later, the military doctor checked my pulse again and again before telling me, “Xiang, congratulations. You’re pregnant.” He said it right there in the medical tent. In an instant, all the wounded soldiers lying there went wild. “A baby? Which bed are you from? Maybe I slept with you. Maybe it’s my seed.” “She looks like Bed Six. I was there last month. Definitely mine.” “Xiang, it’s me, Old Liu! I visit you all the time. Give the kid to me.” No one thought the child was bad luck. That’s the army for you. Here today, gone tomorrow. Maybe missing an arm or a leg, maybe a corpse. Those with kids back home didn’t care. But many soldiers joined up with no family. If they died on the battlefield, having a child with their last name to burn some paper money for them during the holidays was a comfort. The first month I was here, I hated everyone. I wanted to find rat poison and kill them all. But later, people just stopped coming back. Some ended up in a pit on the back hill. Others, no one even knew where their bodies were. Slowly, I went numb. I didn’t know who to hate anymore. The next day, even more men came to find me. The steward set up a separate tent for me. There were at least ten men at the door, bringing vegetables, fish, even a pig’s head. Everyone looked at my belly with greedy eyes. Only a soldier named Jack Stone came empty-handed. He waited until everyone left, then knelt and kowtowed to me. “Miss Yang, I’m going to the front lines as a vanguard. My family only has me left. I need to leave my parents something to remember me by. Please, give this child to me. “I came empty-handed today because I don’t want to waste money. I want to save it all, along with my pension, for you and the child.” I remembered him. He was the only one who got into my bed but didn’t sleep with me. It was two months ago. He was selected for the vanguard battalion. Vanguards are the first line of offense. Old soldiers say if two out of ten survive, it’s a great victory. They get the best food, the strongest wine, and the highest pension if they die. But they fight the battles closest to death. That day, Jack came in drunk, hugging and touching me. In the end, he started crying. “I’m only seventeen. I haven’t married yet. I don’t even know what a woman is like.” My heart softened. I hugged him and comforted him. “Don’t cry. You’ll know tonight.” He looked at me, blushing with embarrassment. “Miss, I’m sorry. I touched you just now because I was too curious. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything else. If I did, my parents would beat me. Go to sleep. I’ll leave once you’re asleep.” His parents raised him well. So well that I never saw him in the brothel camp a second time. 4 I didn’t want a man like that to be the father of my child. I had already decided. My husband had to be a dead man. If he lived and returned home after the war, he might not want a child of unknown origin and a wife like me. A dead soldier was the safest bet. I give him an heir, he gives me a status and a registry. But Jack Stone died anyway. I didn’t even see his body. An officer laid out a pile of items on a table. He said these belonged to the soldiers who died in this battle and wanted to be the father. I could choose one. “Wu Da-niu, 25, from Guangshan Village, Cen County. Left money and pension totaling 37 taels.” “He Er, 15, from Xiaxi Village, Jiaoshan. Left money and pension totaling 32 taels.” … “Jack Stone, 17, from Peach Plum Village, An County. Left money and pension totaling 22 taels.” He went through the piles one by one, shouting the names of those who would never return, as if it were a common occurrence. I listened for a long time before hearing Jack Stone’s name. The money he left was a bit less. But I still pointed at his pile. “Officer, I’ll choose this one. Stone sounds like an honest name.” Honest indeed. In these eight months, he was the only one who said sorry to me and called me Miss. Being buried with him in the future wouldn’t be a loss. Since we were to be buried together, I needed his ashes. I smiled and asked, “Officer, he’s my man now. I want to take his ashes back so my in-laws have something to remember him by.” The officer’s calm eyes finally showed a flicker of emotion. “You have some conscience. The bodies are piled on the back hill. If you want a separate cremation, find the kitchen crew. One tael of silver. If you’re willing to spend it, go ahead.” One tael was expensive. I wouldn’t spend it to burn my own father. But to burn my child’s father, I was willing. 5 I placed a tael of silver on the kitchen head’s table. He looked at me with curiosity. “Haven’t had business in three months, and the first customer is a woman. You’re the pregnant one from the brothel camp? Picked your ghost husband?” They were army cooks. Cremating bodies was just a side hustle for extra cash. Only brothers who had gone through life and death together would burn a fallen comrade to take his ashes home. There weren’t many customers a year. It was always men before. I was the first woman. On the way there, many people watched me silently. Some even followed to the back hill, helping me find the body without asking for money. While searching, someone started crying. “Lucky bastard. Has a woman bearing his child, willing to pay to take him home. Don’t know if there’ll be enough pieces of me left to be buried in my family grave.” “Bah, what are you crying for? Dead is dead. Have some ambition and hope you walk back in one piece.” “I don’t want to go back if I die. My mom doesn’t like me anyway. Buried on the back hill, at least I have brothers to chat with.” “Boohoo, but I want to go back. My mom is waiting for me to get married.” … The camp after a big battle was like this. Depressing, sad, fearful. Some vented on the training ground, some vented on us. The head cook was used to it. Listening to the crying, he searched skillfully. Soon, he found a bloody corpse. I knew the vanguard troops died horribly, but seeing it with my own eyes taught me what “war is hell” really meant. Jack’s left ear was gone. Most of the bodies lying here were missing left ears. Said to be cut off by the Northern Barbarians as trophies. His left eye was gone too. An arrow had been there; now only a hole remained. There were similar holes in his right chest and calf. But what killed him was probably a blade. A deep slash across his abdomen. The head cook turned the face towards me. “Look closely. Just like the portrait. I didn’t get the wrong man.” I nodded. I used a wet cloth to clean Jack’s face and changed him into clean clothes. Armor was scarce in the camp. It was stripped from the dead. Burning him in his underwear wasn’t dignified. The sobbing behind me grew louder. Someone whispered, “I’ll be nicer to those women in the tents from now on. They have heart.” I spat internally. I had feelings for Jack because he didn’t touch me. Anyone else, I’d take the money and run. Soldiers have it bad, but aren’t we pitiful too?

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When my parents said they were going to adopt Luke, I packed my bags and moved out without hesitation. “I’ve made space for him. From now on, he’s your real son. Catch you later.” As the disposable male side character in a story where everyone loves the main character, I’ve decided to slack off in this life. Luke wants to steal my parents? Let him have them. Steal my sister? Take her. Steal my childhood sweetheart? Free gift. Oh boy, now they’re all dumbfounded. 1 On the day Luke married my childhood sweetheart, I died. My soul floated in mid-air, watching their wedding. The reception was held at a five-star hotel, luxurious and dreamy. I have to say, my parents really spared no expense for her. In a joyful atmosphere, I saw my biological parents and sister going up on stage one by one, giving warm and touching blessings to the newlyweds. They chatted, took photos, and toasted together… Until my sister, Grace, received a call from the police station. Two minutes later, she said “I know” expressionlessly and hung up. “Sis, who was that?” Luke, dressed in a well-tailored black haute couture suit, looked radiant. “No one.” Grace shook her head and patted his shoulder affectionately. To avoid ruining Luke’s mood, she even hid the news of my death from him. Actually, this was completely unnecessary. Because before I died, Luke was on the phone with me. It was he who signaled his crazy stalker to stab me to death. How could this scumbag not know I was already dead? Luke looked up at Grace: “Thank you, Sis. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for everything you’ve done for me. Coming to the Gu family and meeting you is the luckiest thing in my life.” F*ck! Even as a ghost, I couldn’t help cursing. Luke was always good at saying these cheesy and useless pleasantries. It costs nothing anyway, and it can coax these idiots into being loyal to him, so why not? Grace was indeed moved to tears, hugging him with relief: “Don’t mention it, Luke. You deserve everything.” The two smiled knowingly. I was so angry I couldn’t stand it anymore. Just as I rushed over to kick Luke hard, the scene before my eyes suddenly changed, constantly switching like a movie being fast-forwarded. After a bout of dizziness, I was reborn. 2 I was reborn at sixteen, the day my family moved into the river view villa. Luke was the son of my dad’s best friend. His biological parents died in a car accident. Because no one was willing to adopt him, he lived in a local orphanage for a few years before being found by my dad. He had just arrived at our house six months ago. With a pitiful background and a docile personality, coupled with severe malnutrition making him incredibly thin, my dad’s heart ached for him. In fact, it wasn’t just my dad; my mom and sister felt the same. In just six months, reluctant to let Luke live in the attic forever, my parents actually sold our old house and bought a river view villa for his sake. And I was reborn at this moment. My dad’s excited voice rang in my ears: “Alright, kids, go pick your own rooms. Except for the master bedroom, anything goes.” I remembered. On the day we moved into the new house, our parents let us choose our rooms. Luke and I both had our eyes on the south-facing room on the second floor. Not only did it have a luxurious bathtub, but it also had huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sparkling river. Thinking of this, I decisively walked up to the second floor. “I want this one.” After I said this to my dad, Luke walked in too. His eyes lit up instantly: “This room has such a great view.” “Dad, can I live here?” My dad paused. I had anticipated Luke’s reaction and said coolly: “Are you deaf? I said I want this one.” Hearing my blunt retort, Luke immediately put on a flustered expression: “Sorry, Cole, I really didn’t hear you.” “If you like this one, you can have it. Actually, I can live anywhere. Compared to my room in the orphanage, this place is heaven.” “Mom and Dad are so good to me, I’m really afraid I won’t be able to repay you in the future.” Here comes the green tea bitch act again. Doesn’t he feel cringy saying this stuff as a grown man? It sounded fake as hell, yet some people were incredibly moved. “Cole, how about… you let Luke have this room and you live downstairs?” My dad hesitated and said to me. My mom also chimed in: “Yeah, son, the rooms upstairs and downstairs aren’t that different. Why not let Luke have this one?” Identical plot, identical words. Except unlike my shock and disbelief in my previous life, this time my heart was calm as still water. “Dad, Mom, get it straight. I’m your biological son.” They looked at each other. Dad continued: “Cole, your mom and I have decided to formally adopt Luke. From today on, you are both my sons.” Luke looked incredulous: “Dad, Mom, are you really willing to adopt me?” Grace was also surprised and delighted: “You’re going to adopt Luke?” Mom looked at him lovingly and nodded affirmatively: “Yes, Luke, welcome to officially becoming a member of our family.” Luke’s eyes suddenly turned red, his voice choking: “Mom, thank you. And Dad, I don’t know what to say, but I really love you guys so much.” “Bleugh…” I couldn’t help but dry heave. Because the sound was particularly loud, everyone looked at me. Grace frowned, looking especially displeased: “Cole, what are you doing?” “Sorry.” I waved my hand apologetically, “Might have eaten sh*t this morning, feel like vomiting.” Everyone’s expression was a bit indescribable. Luke was halfway through his emotional speech when I killed the mood. He looked weird. “Since you’re going to adopt him, I’ll move out. I don’t want this room anymore.” “I’ve made space for him. From now on, he’s your real son, fully responsible for your retirement. Catch you later.” After saying that, I turned to leave. “Cole.” My dad shouted angrily, “What are you crazy about?” Me crazy? I just don’t want to be cannon fodder anymore. I don’t want to end up betrayed by everyone and dying miserably on the street again in this life. “Dad, I’m serious. It’s either Luke or me. You and Mom decide.” “Cole, how did Luke offend you? Why have you become so selfish?” My mom also pulled a long face and scolded. With my “help,” Luke’s emotions returned. His eyes reddened, looking aggrieved: “Mom, Dad, don’t fight. I’m not worth it.” “Enough, Cole.” Grace stood in front of Luke without hesitation, glaring at me: “Apologize to Luke, right now.” Apologize my ass. I rolled my eyes. As expected of the male lead in this “Real and Fake Young Master” story, with just one sentence, my sister became his lackey. No wonder I was no match for him in my previous life. In this life, I quit. So what if I’m cannon fodder? Can’t I go on strike? Can’t I stay away from this family? Can’t I go find my own happiness? If I’m not welcome here, I’ll go somewhere else. “Bye, Sis. You can apologize yourself, I’m not playing along.” Seeing I was serious, my dad frowned: “Cole, you’re still a minor. We have custody of you.” True, I wasn’t an adult yet. If I were, the first thing I’d do would be to move my household registration out. Too lazy to talk nonsense with them. “I can stay, but first, I don’t agree with you adopting Luke. He can only stay temporarily.” “Second, I must have this room. Non-negotiable.” My dad didn’t speak, just looked at me quietly. After a long while, he said calmly: “Your mom and I have made up our minds about adopting Luke. It won’t change.” “As for the room, Cole, you already have enough. Why must you fight with Luke?” 3 Even though I expected the result, my heart still ached. What did I have? I used to have loving biological parents and a sister. But now they’re gone, stolen by Luke. If I don’t withdraw now, I’ll end up with the same fate as my previous life. Watching helplessly as Luke conquers my parents, sister, and childhood sweetheart. The day the novel has a Happy Ending is the day I die on the street. I sighed: “Then there’s nothing to talk about. Sorry, Dad, you abandoned me first. My life has nothing to do with you anymore.” My dad finally got angry, his voice stern: “Cole, are you deaf or stupid? If you walk out this door today, don’t ever come back.” “Son, apologize to your dad quickly, or I can’t help you either.” Mom looked at me with a dark face. Luke, originally protected behind Grace, looked over upon hearing this. His eyes were calm and composed, completely devoid of the grievance and pitifulness from just now. In my previous life, I often saw that expression on his face. When I argued for a whole day but still didn’t win this room, he looked at me calmly like that. So much so that I still remember Luke’s matter-of-fact expression when he moved into this room. “Thank you, Mom and Dad. I really like this room.” Although his mouth was saying thanks, I could clearly hear the triumph in his tone. It was the joy and triumph after winning a battle. Mom and Dad took him and Grace on a trip but didn’t take me. After they came back, Luke explained to me “kindly”: “Cole, Mom and Dad didn’t take you because they were afraid of delaying your English exam next week. Don’t be mad.” I wasn’t the only one taking exams; he and Grace had exams too. Just because they could only book four tickets, my biological parents chose to take the adopted son on a trip instead of me. Afterwards, I asked my mom why they did that. “Son, haven’t you been to Beihai already? Luke has never traveled. Don’t you think he’s pitiful?” This sentence again. What does Luke being pitiful have to do with me? I didn’t make him an orphan. “What about Grace? She’s been there too.” Mom was speechless for a moment and could only compromise: “How about Mom and Dad make it up to you next time we travel?” I was quite naive then, actually believing her nonsense. How could there be parents in the world who love an adopted son more than their own flesh and blood? But facts proved. There are. And I met them. Mom and Dad started forgetting me frequently. They took Grace and Luke to the movies, and I only found out when they came back at night. The family of four drove to the countryside for a picnic, and I only heard them mention it a few weeks later. Luke became better and better at pleasing Mom and Dad. Mentioned an iPad today, Dad bought it for him tomorrow. Said a new phone model was released in the morning, Mom gave it to him as a gift in the evening. His status in Mom and Dad’s hearts had long surpassed mine, and his pocket money was much more than mine. Grace was even worse, becoming a straight-up “brother-con.” Of course, the brother she spoiled wasn’t me. She introduced Luke to her best friends. Treating Luke and his bros to BBQ. Spending money to take him to see his favorite basketball star’s game. Because Luke didn’t like dogs, she even gave away the puppy I had raised for years without saying a word. I went to argue with her in a rage, and my good sister just said lightly: “What’s the point of keeping that beast? It almost bit Luke last time. Should’ve thrown it away long ago.” In fact, my puppy was always well-behaved. If others didn’t provoke it, it wouldn’t attack anyone. I hated Luke more and more, while other family members liked him more and more. In my previous life, I never understood why it was like this. It wasn’t until I died that I figured it out. Turns out Luke is the male lead in a “Real and Fake Young Master” novel. Although I was born to my biological parents, I was the authentic cannon fodder male side character. Fifteen years of smooth sailing were all paving the way for his appearance. In this life, I absolutely won’t endure it anymore. Worst case scenario is death. I want to see if this male lead will still have a Happy Ending if I don’t follow the script. “Apologizing is impossible. I will never apologize in this life. Dad, Mom, take care.” 4 Half a month later, I moved into the most prestigious wealthy district in City A—Number One Mansion. In this place where the average housing price is $6,000 per square foot, I learned what “an inch of land, an inch of gold” means. A woman in an elegant white long dress walked towards me with a smile. “Cole.” “Auntie Lu.” I greeted her politely. “Did you bring all your luggage? Just this much?” “That’s all. I didn’t have much stuff to begin with.” “Okay, I’ll have Chloe take you to your room on the third floor.” “Thank you, Auntie Lu.” Chloe Lu is the same age as me, in third year of middle school this year. She has bright eyes and white teeth, charming and touching, but her personality is too cold. She’s the standard rich young lady type, radiating an aura that says “Strangers Keep Away.” Her sister, Sophia Lu, is more approachable. Both sisters have ceiling-level beauty, the kind ordinary people can’t reach. No wonder rich people like to marry stars; at least the next generation’s looks are guaranteed. After all, Mrs. Lu won the beauty pageant championship back in the day with her earth-shattering beauty. The elevator arrived at the third floor. Opening the door. Even though I was mentally prepared, I was still shocked by the scene before me. This room was literally big enough for me to jog in. Luxurious crystal chandelier, elegant vintage European-style bed. Through the glass, the entire city’s night view could be seen. Truly a mansion worth $100 million. I looked up at Chloe: “Thank you, Second Miss.” She nodded. Perhaps feeling she was too cold, she added faintly: “You’re welcome.” After Chloe left, I walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. It was quiet all around. In the distance, neon lights flickered, thousands of lights, beautiful beyond words. I didn’t expect our City A to have such a quiet and tranquil place. The scenery here is much better than our river view villa. I have to sigh, the life of the rich is truly unpretentious.

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My mom, worried about my spending habits, entrusted my monthly $500 allowance to my childhood friend, Ryan. But he only gives me $10 a week. When the summer heat became unbearable, I asked to use my own money to move to a dorm with AC. He flatly refused. “You’re only hot because you’re too fat,” he sneered. “Eat less, lose weight, and you’ll be fine.” On Valentine’s Day, I caught him and his bros partying at a bar. “Yo, Ryan, where’s your girl? Still saving yourself for the wifey?” Ryan clinked his glass with a laugh. “Yeah. Once she slims down, I’ll bring her around to meet you guys.” “Drink up, everyone. Tonight’s on me.” His friends praised him for being generous and loyal. I stood in the corner, watching them, when a strong arm wrapped around my waist. A husky voice whispered in my ear: “What are you looking at, wifey?” I pouted, turned, and buried my face in the bar owner’s chest, sobbing dramatically: “Boohoo, Seth! Someone stole my money! Beat him up for me!” 1 I’m 5’5″ and weigh 140 pounds. I’ve got curves in all the right places and I’m perfectly happy with my body. But Ryan always thinks I’m fat. Back in high school, during P.E., he’d always take off his jacket and drape it over me. Classmates would coo about how sweet and protective he was. Only I could hear the venomous whisper in my ear. “Luna, have some shame! You’re so fat, everything jiggles when you run. Don’t you see all the guys staring at you?” I threw his jacket on the ground. If guys are staring, that’s their problem. Or maybe it’s the sports bra design, or the shirt cut. What does it have to do with me? There were countless incidents like this, but I never took Ryan seriously. He couldn’t control me. Until college. My mom, brainwashed by Ryan’s constant nagging, decided I was indeed too fat. She resolutely handed over my monthly allowance to him. “Ryan, I know you’re a good kid and you care about Luna. I’m leaving her in your hands.” Ryan looked solemn and serious. “Don’t worry, Auntie. I’ll make sure Luna loses weight!” I almost choked on my own spit. Out of my $500 allowance, Ryan only gave me $10 a week. He refused to let me switch to an AC dorm and demanded I report everything I ate. I tried to act cute: [Ryan, look, ten bucks a week means less than two dollars a day. A bagel is two dollars. I can only eat three bagels a day. I’m going to turn into a bagel! Boohoo.] He replied like a robot: [A plain bagel is 250 calories. A cinnamon raisin bagel is 300 calories. Next time, stick to plain. Also, did you buy that coffee next to it? From now on, your allowance is $8 a week. Exactly enough for three plain bagels.] Insane. I complained to my mom, but she sold me out in three seconds. “Ryan is a good kid, top of his class. Just listen to him, he won’t hurt you.” I was furious! I threatened Ryan directly: [If you don’t give me money, I’m going to find a sugar daddy!] [Luna! You dare!] [Try me.] 2 Of course, I didn’t actually dare. I’ve always been open-minded and practical—money talks. But the world is messy, and I didn’t want to catch anything nasty. I decided to get a job. Sophomore year was busy, so I only had evenings free. All the good gigs were taken by upperclassmen, so I ended up at a late-night food stall. Right across from a big club, business was booming. Standing next to the grill in midsummer was sweltering. I wore a tight tank top and hot pants under an apron, my pale skin glowing in the dim light. I was on my feet constantly. Occasionally, I’d sneak a skewer when the boss wasn’t looking. My coworker, Peach, watched jealously as I munched. “Luna, the boss is so cheap. Why does he let you steal food?” I grabbed another lamb skewer for her and blinked. “Oh, I thought it was allowed.” “Tsk, dummy. Look over there.” She gestured with her chin. “See him? That’s the owner of the club across the street. He used to eat at the place next door. Since you started, he comes here every night at 8 PM sharp. And because he’s here, all the girls from the club come too. Sales have doubled! You’re the boss’s money tree now!” I looked over. A group of guys sat at the big table on the edge. The one in the center stood out. He wore a floral shirt unbuttoned to reveal a solid chest, his jawline sharp in the flickering light. He held a cigarette between his fingers, squinting as he watched his friends play cards. As if sensing my gaze, he turned. Our eyes met, and ash fell from his cigarette. Wow, he’s hot. But… I pouted. “He smokes. I hate the smell of smoke.” The man’s hand twitched, and his half-smoked cigarette fell to the ground. I realized something was off and shut my mouth. He couldn’t have heard me, right? We were five or six tables apart. 3 The food stall paid daily. Peach might have been right; when I started, I got $20 a night. Within two weeks, it went up to $60. Thrilled, I Venmo’d Ryan back his pathetic $8, skipped work, and treated myself to a buffet. Unexpectedly, I ran into Ryan. He was with a thin, pale girl. They walked in right after paying. Before I could hide, Ryan spotted me and stormed over. “Luna! Are you sneaking food here?” I crawled out from under the table, defiant. “Who’s sneaking? I’m eating openly!” My gaze shifted to the timid girl behind him. I smirked. “Yo, bringing your girlfriend out? Ryan, if I don’t tell your dad you’re dating, will you stop controlling my allowance?” Ryan’s dad was strict. No drinking, no staying out late, no dating before graduation. One strike and he’d break Ryan’s legs. Ryan frowned, afraid I’d misunderstand. “Sarah is in the student council with me. Her monthly allowance is only $100. Poor thing almost fainted from low blood sugar today while helping out. As president, I’m treating her to a good meal.” “Luna, don’t overthink it.” I laughed bitterly. “My allowance is less than $50. Why don’t I see you feeling sorry for me?” “Sarah only weighs 90 pounds. You’re 30 pounds heavier. Can you compare?” So what if I’m 30 pounds heavier! My weight is in all the right places! I put my hands on my hips, glaring at Ryan. Sarah was thin, with a high ponytail, looking small and fragile. She hid behind Ryan like a frightened deer, but couldn’t resist peeking out to ask curiously: “You only get $50 a month, but this buffet is $80 a person. Where did you get the money…” She covered her mouth, looking innocent. “Sorry, Luna. I was just curious, no other meaning. But your skirt… is really short.” Ryan’s eyes darkened as he scanned my little black dress that didn’t reach my knees. He grabbed my hand, his voice rising sharply. “Luna, did you actually find a sugar daddy!?” 4 I’ve never had a good temper. I shot a cold glare at Sarah. “If you can’t say anything nice, shut up. Know what thoughts to keep to yourself? Understand?” Sarah’s eyes turned red immediately. She clutched Ryan’s sleeve pitifully, her voice trembling. “President, I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean anything by it. Your friend… is so scary.” Ryan, with his cold, handsome face and gold-rimmed glasses, looked like a refined scumbag. As soon as he started college, he attracted girls like a flower attracts bees. I didn’t understand why he kept fixating on me when he had so many girls around him. And now he was bringing this drama to me. Seeing I was genuinely angry, Ryan reined in his emotions. He pursed his lips, shook off Sarah, and scolded her coldly. “Luna is right. If you can’t speak properly, don’t speak.” “If I catch you doing this again, you’re out of the student council!” Without looking at Sarah’s embarrassed face, he dragged me out. In a quiet corner of the mall, he cornered me. Fist pressed against the wall, he tried to control his anger. “Where did you get the money?” Thinking of Ryan’s terrifying control issues, I worried he might find the food stall. I pouted, looking at the ceiling, looking at the floor. Saying nothing. Ryan, out of options, softened his voice and stuffed a bill into my hand. “I’ll raise your allowance to $20. Don’t go looking for sketchy people.” I finally looked at him. Oh, his eyes were red. Who knows what he’d do if pushed too far. I decided to compromise, taking the money but complaining: “Ryan, you’re so cheap.” 5 Today, the club across the street had an event, and it was packed. Business at the food stall picked up too. The boss messaged me to come in early. Before I got there, I saw a guy surrounded by a group in an alley. The leader was the owner of the BBQ place next door, covered in tattoos. Looking dangerous. I squinted, not wanting to get involved. But a glance back revealed a pair of dark, intense eyes. I froze. Seth. The club owner. Isn’t he tough? Big guy, lots of friends. Getting bullied? Curiosity got the better of me. I bit down on my lollipop and peeked around the corner. Before long, the group started beating him. Seth didn’t seem to fight back. The sickening sound of punches hitting flesh drifted from the alley. Afraid they’d kill him, I rushed in, swinging my bag. “I called the cops! They’ll be here any second! Stop!” Before I could do any damage, the group scattered, cursing as they ran. “Fck, crazy btch! Almost broke my ribs!” ??? I weighed my bunny backpack, which only held a few lipsticks. Was that a fight or a scam? I looked at the man sitting on the ground. Dim streetlight fell on his brow, illuminating his sharp features. His handsome face was clean, not a scratch. Instead, his tank top was intentionally lifted, revealing eight distinct abs. In the light, I could even see the pink of his chest. I quickly covered my nose. Damn. I was a little turned on. Seth blinked his long lashes, looking at me with a lost, husky voice. “They blamed me for not eating at their place lately, dragging down their business.” I looked skeptical. Peach told me he owned all the shops on this street. Tenants beating up the landlord? But it was gossip, so maybe not entirely true. I felt a pang of sympathy. “Can you walk?” Under the night sky. Seth’s dark eyes flashed. “Can’t move. Take me home?”

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